The Genome Landscape of Tibetan Sheep Reveals Adaptive Introgression from Argali and the History of Early Human Settlements on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Tibetan sheep are the most common and widespread domesticated animals on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and have played an essential role in the permanent human occupation of this high-altitude region. However, the precise timing, route, and process of sheep pastoralism in the QTP region remain poorly established, and little is known about the underlying genomic changes that occurred during the process. Here, we investigate the genomic variation in Tibetan sheep using whole-genome sequences, single nucleotide polymorphism arrays, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal variants in 986 samples throughout their distribution range.

Farrerol attenuates β-amyloid-induced oxidative stress and inflammation through Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in a microglia cell line.

Farrerol, an important bioactive constituent of rhododendron, exhibits broad activities such as anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies showed that farrerol possesses neuroprotective activity, however, the mechanism has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of farrerol on β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced mouse microglial BV-2 cells and the underlying mechanism.

Eleutheroside B1 mediates its anti-influenza activity through POLR2A and N-glycosylation.

Influenza viruses represent a serious threat to human health. Although our research group has previously demonstrated the antiviral and anti‑inflammatory activities of eleutheroside B1, a detailed explanation of the mechanism by which it is effective against the influenza virus remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the transcriptomic responses of influenza A virus‑infected lung epithelial cells (A549) treated with eleutheroside B1 were investigated using high‑throughput RNA sequencing, and potential targets were identified using a molecular docking technique, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) assay, and DNA methylation analysis.

An active component containing pterodontic acid and pterodondiol isolated from Laggera pterodonta inhibits influenza A virus infection through the TLR7/MyD88/TRAF6/NF‑κB signaling pathway.

The influenza virus is a pathogen that can cause pandemic and epidemic outbreaks, and therefore represents a severe threat to human health. Antiviral drugs have an important role in the prevention and treatment of influenza, although the increasing emergence of drug resistance has given rise to a requirement for the development of novel antiviral drugs. In the present study, an active component (C8) isolated from Laggera pterodonta was evaluated.

Sustainability of the use of natural capital in a city: Measuring the size and depth of urban ecological and water footprints.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are limited in their ability to measure progress towards environmental sustainability especially at the city level. The aim of this paper is to provide insights into an integrated assessment of urban sustainability, with emphasis on the significance of the maintenance of natural capital stocks. The use of water and land as critical natural capital in Guiyang, a southeast city in China was investigated by bringing together the ecological footprint (EF), water footprint (WF) and corresponding capacity indicators into an improved three-dimensional (i3D) model.

Reactivity of thyroid papillary carcinoma cells to thyroid stimulating hormone-dominated endocrine therapy.

This study investigated the effect of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on the proliferation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells and the therapeutic effect of levothyroxine sodium (TH). PTC cells (TPC-1) were cultured using 0.1, 1.

Green Approach to Improving the Strength and Flame Retardancy of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Clay Aerogels: Incorporating Biobased Gelatin.

Biobased gelatins were used to improve the compressive properties and flammability of poly(vinyl alcohol)/montmorillonite (PVA/MMT) aerogels, fabricated using a simple and environmentally friendly freeze-drying method. Because of the excellent compatibility and strong interfacial adhesion between PVA and gelatin, the compressive moduli of aerogels were enhanced dramatically with the incorporation of gelatin. PVA/MMT/porcine-gelatin aerogels exhibit compressive modulus values as much as 12.

Draft genome of the Marco Polo Sheep (Ovis ammon polii).

Background: The Marco Polo Sheep (Ovis ammon polii), a subspecies of argali (Ovis ammon) that is distributed mainly in the Pamir Mountains, provides a mammalian model to study high altitude adaptation mechanisms. Due to over-hunting and subsistence poaching, as well as competition with livestock and habitat loss, O. ammon has been categorized as an endangered species on several lists.

Environmental performance of straw-based pulp making: A life cycle perspective.

Agricultural straw-based pulp making plays a vital role in pulp and paper industry, especially in forest deficient countries such as China. However, the environmental performance of straw-based pulp has scarcely been studied. A life cycle assessment on wheat straw-based pulp making in China was conducted to fill of the gaps in comprehensive environmental assessments of agricultural straw-based pulp making.

Tmbim1 is a multivesicular body regulator that protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and monkeys by targeting the lysosomal degradation of Tlr4.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasingly prevalent liver pathology that can progress from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it is a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is currently no pharmacological therapy for NASH. Defective lysosome-mediated protein degradation is a key process that underlies steatohepatitis and a well-recognized drug target in a variety of diseases; however, whether it can serve as a therapeutic target for NAFLD and NASH remains unknown.

Inhibition of the infectivity and inflammatory response of influenza virus by Arbidol hydrochloride in vitro and in vivo (mice and ferret).

Influenza virus infections are the main contagious respiratory disease with high levels of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antiviral drugs are indispensable for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza and other respiratory viral infections. In this study, the Arbidol hydrochloride (ARB), which has been licensed in Russia and China, is used to investigate its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

Inflammasome Activation Triggers Caspase-1-Mediated Cleavage of cGAS to Regulate Responses to DNA Virus Infection.

Viral infection triggers host innate immune responses that result in the production of various cytokines including type I interferons (IFN), activation of inflammasomes, and programmed cell death of the infected cells. Tight control of inflammatory cytokine production is crucial for the triggering of an effective immune response that can resolve the infection without causing host pathology. In examining the inflammatory response of Asc and Casp1 macrophages, we found that deficiency in these molecules resulted in increased IFN production upon DNA virus infection, but not RNA virus challenge.

The Chinese prescription lianhuaqingwen capsule exerts anti-influenza activity through the inhibition of viral propagation and impacts immune function.

Background: Lianhuaqingwen Capsule (LH-C) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat respiratory tract infectious diseases in Chinese. The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral activity of LH-C and its immunomodulatory effects on viral infection.

Method: The in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of LH-C was determined by MTT and Plaque reduction assays.

Effects of Ca addition on the uptake, translocation, and distribution of Cd in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a risk to human health for its accumulation in soil and crops, but this can be alleviated by calcium (Ca) addition. However, its mechanism remains unclear yet. In this study, Arabidopsis thaliana was used to explore the alleviating effects of Ca on Cd toxicity and its specific function during uptake, upward-translocation, and distribution of Cd.

Radix isatidis Polysaccharides Inhibit Influenza a Virus and Influenza A Virus-Induced Inflammation via Suppression of Host TLR3 Signaling In Vitro.

Influenza remains one of the major epidemic diseases worldwide, and rapid virus replication and collateral lung tissue damage caused by excessive pro-inflammatory host immune cell responses lead to high mortality rates. Thus, novel therapeutic agents that control influenza A virus (IAV) propagation and attenuate excessive pro-inflammatory responses are needed. Polysaccharide extract from , a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, exerted potent anti-IAV activity against human seasonal influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and avian influenza viruses (H6N2 and H9N2) in vitro.

Inhibition viral RNP and anti-inflammatory activity of coumarins against influenza virus.

Influenza viruses pose a severe threat to human health and a significant increase in antiviral drug-resistant among influenza viruses worldwide has been observed. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop the new antiviral drugs, specifically from the natural products. In this study, the anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarins against influenza A virus in vitro were investigated.

Low-dose 5-fluorouracil sensitizes HepG2 cells to TRAIL through TRAIL receptor DR5 and survivin-dependent mechanisms.

Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising candidate for cancer treatment due to its highly selective apoptosis-inducing action on tumour cells without harming normal cells. However, because of TRAIL resistance by some cancer cells, combined treatment with sensitizing agents is required to enhance the anticancer potential of TRAIL. In the present study, we investigated the sensitizing effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells.

Evaluating renewable natural resources flow and net primary productivity with a GIS-Emergy approach: A case study of Hokkaido, Japan.

Renewable natural resources, such as solar radiation, rainfall, wind, and geothermal heat, together with ecosystem services, provide the elementary supports for the sustainable development of human society. To improve regional sustainability, we studied the spatial distributions and quantities of renewable natural resources and net primary productivity (NPP) in Hokkaido, which is the second largest island of Japan. With the help of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, distribution maps for each type of renewable natural resource were generated by kriging interpolation based on statistical records.

Optoelectronic Properties of Few-Layer MoS FET Gated by Ferroelectric Relaxor Polymer.

Recently, new devices combining two-dimensional (2D) materials with ferroelectrics, have been a new hotspot for promising applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Here, we design a new type of FET using the 2D MoS and poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofloroethylene) terpolymer ferroelectric relaxor. The devices exhibit excellent performance including a large on/off ratio) and an insignificant leakage current.

High expression of BAG3 predicts a poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma.

Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3), a co-chaperone of the heat shock protein (Hsp) 70, regulates various physiological and pathological processes. However, its role in human medulloblastoma has not been clarified. First of all, the expression of BAG3 was examined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens by immunohistochemical staining.