Learning agility and adaptive legged locomotion via curricular hindsight reinforcement learning.

Agile and adaptive maneuvers such as fall recovery, high-speed turning, and sprinting in the wild are challenging for legged systems. We propose a Curricular Hindsight Reinforcement Learning (CHRL) that learns an end-to-end tracking controller that achieves powerful agility and adaptation for the legged robot. The two key components are (i) a novel automatic curriculum strategy on task difficulty and (ii) a Hindsight Experience Replay strategy adapted to legged locomotion tasks.

Hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 deficiency induces fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma-related gene activation under a high carbohydrate low fat diet.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) is a pivotal enzyme in lipogenesis, which catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) from saturated fatty acids, whose ablation downregulates lipid synthesis, preventing steatosis and obesity. Yet deletion of SCD1 promotes hepatic inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress, raising the question of whether hepatic SCD1 deficiency promotes further liver damage, including fibrosis. To delineate whether SCD1 deficiency predisposes the liver to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we employed in vivo SCD1 deficient global and liver-specific mouse models fed a high carbohydrate low-fat diet and in vitro established AML12 mouse cells.

Effect of Bionic Crab Shell Attitude Parameters on Lift and Drag in a Flow Field.

Underwater bionic-legged robots encounter significant challenges in attitude, velocity, and positional control due to lift and drag in water current environments, making it difficult to balance operational efficiency with motion stability. This study delves into the hydrodynamic properties of a bionic crab robot's shell, drawing inspiration from the sea crab's motion postures. It further refines the robot's underwater locomotion strategy based on these insights.

Inhibition of multiple CDKs potentiates colon cancer chemotherapy via p73-mediated DR5 induction.

Targeting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic approach against cancer. However, the anticancer mechanisms of different CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) are not well understood. Our recent study revealed that selective CDK4/6 inhibitors sensitize colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to therapy-induced apoptosis by inducing Death Receptor 5 (DR5) via the p53 family member p73.

Hepatic Oleate Regulates Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 1 Partially through the mTORC1-FGF21 Axis during High-Carbohydrate Feeding.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) catalyzes the rate-liming step of monounsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and is a key regulator of systemic glucose metabolism. Mice harboring either a global (GKO) or liver-specific deletion (LKO) of display enhanced insulin signaling and whole-body glucose uptake. Additionally, GKO and LKO mice are protected from high-carbohydrate diet-induced obesity.

Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-2 in Murine Development, Metabolism, and Disease.

Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-2 (SCD2) is a member of the Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD) family of enzymes that catalyze the rate-limiting step in monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) synthesis. The MUFAs palmitoleoyl-CoA (16:1n7) and oleoyl-CoA (18:1n9) are the major products of SCD2. Palmitoleoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA have various roles, from being a source of energy to signaling molecules.

Long-term effects of lysine concentration on growth performance, intestinal microbiome, and metabolic profiles in a pig model.

Lysine is a common limiting amino acid in human and animal diets and plays an important role in cell proliferation and metabolism. Our previous study suggested that short-term lysine restriction improved feed intake. Herein, we further investigated the long-term effects of lysine restriction on intestinal microbial communities and metabolic profiles in pigs by 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomic analysis.

Long-term Effects of Lysine Restriction on Liver Global Proteins, Meat Quality, and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Pigs.

Background: Our previous study suggested that short-term lysine restriction improved feed intake and gut microbiota in piglets. Thus, in this study, we further used proteomics technology to investigate the potential mechanism associated with long-term lysine restriction in pigs. In addition, blood biochemical parameters, meat quality, and muscle nutrient transporters were also evaluated in lysine restricted pigs.

Lysine Restriction Affects Feed Intake and Amino Acid Metabolism via Gut Microbiome in Piglets.

Background/aims: Our previous reports suggested that dietary supplementation with lysine influenced intestinal absorption and metabolism of amino acids. In this study, we further investigated the effect of lysine restriction (30%) on feed intake and we also tested the hypothesis that gut microbiome contributed to the potential mechanism of lysine restriction-mediated feeding behavior. Here, we profiled gut microbial communities by sequencing 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) genes from gut samples as well as growth performance, serum hormones, and intestinal lysine transport in a piglet model.

[On-line solid phase extraction for desalting coupled with mass spectrometric analysis].

The work shown here describes a simple, fast and effective on-line solid phase extraction (on-line SPE) method for facilitative high-throughput sample desalting before the detection of mass spectrometry (MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This method includes single SPE column mode and dual SPE column mode. It accomplishes the on-line desalting with an Ultimate 3000 HPLC system equipped with a dual pump system (loading pump/analytical pump), an autosampler, a column oven equipped with a 2p-10p valve, controlled by a chromatography data system.

[Determination of paraquat and diquat in drinking water and environmental water by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with on-line clean-up and solid phase extraction].

An on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) system was used to eliminate the interferences sufficiently and fulfill the simple and sensitive determination of diquat and paraquat in tap and pond water. This on-line SPE system used two SPE cartridges. One was an Acclaim Mixed-Mode WAX-1 cartridge for the elimination of anionic interferences; the other one was an Acclaim Mixed-Mode WCX-1 cartridge for the enrichment of diquat and paraquat and the elimination of co-enriched cationic interferences.

Supplementing L-leucine to a low-protein diet increases tissue protein synthesis in weanling pigs.

Recent work with young pigs shows that reducing dietary protein intake can improve gut function after weaning but results in inadequate provision of essential amino acids for muscle growth. Because acute administration of L-leucine stimulates protein synthesis in piglet muscle, the present study tested the hypothesis that supplementing L-leucine to a low-protein diet may maintain the activation of translation initiation factors and adequate protein synthesis in multiple organs of post-weaning pigs. Eighteen 21-day pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) were fed low-protein diets (16.