Publications by authors named "Zhikai Xing"
Article Synopsis
- The Antarctic Peninsula has unique ecosystems, heavily relying on microorganisms for ecological balance, but there's limited knowledge about soil microbial community diversity across the region.
- Metagenome sequencing was employed to assess soil microbes in four specific locations, revealing insights into their composition and functions.
- Results indicated variations in bacterial types and their functions across locations, including the presence of numerous antibiotic resistance genes linked to human activities, highlighting the need for careful management of Antarctic microbial resources.
Article Synopsis
- The paper presents a new fault diagnosis method for rotating machinery that combines transfer learning with the ConvNeXt model, focusing on issues like limited sample sizes and diverse operating conditions.
- It introduces a novel way to visualize vibration data by creating RGB images from various representations of the signal, which improves the input for the model while preserving important features.
- Experimental results indicate that this method leads to better fault classification accuracy and efficiency without increasing sample size, making the TL-CoCNN model a powerful tool for practical fault detection applications.
Article Synopsis
- Plant essential oils (EOs) are effective and safer alternatives to traditional pesticides for pest control due to their low toxicity to non-target species.
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) identified thymol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene as the main components in the studied EO, which showed significant larvicidal and ovicidal activity against certain pests.
- The study also found that EO treatment influenced detoxification enzyme activities, supporting its potential as an eco-friendly insecticide option.
Article Synopsis
- Chitons, a primitive group of mollusks, provide a valuable opportunity to study biomineralization, but genomic data at the chromosomal level has been lacking.
- Using advanced sequencing and chromosome mapping techniques, researchers have created a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for Acanthochiton rubrolineatus, detailing its size and genetic content.
- This study lays the foundation for further research into the genetic mechanisms behind chiton biomineralization and their evolutionary connections to other mollusks, which can enhance our understanding of molluscan adaptations in varying environments.
Article Synopsis
- The Muricidae family consists of many species with diverse features, and their evolutionary links are not fully understood despite prior studies.
- The mitochondrial genome of Mancinella alouina was sequenced, revealing 16,671 base pairs and 37 genes, with similarities to other Muricidae species, though distinct from two.
- Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the genus Mancinella diverged around 18.09 million years ago, providing new insights into the molecular relationships and evolutionary timeline of the Muricidae family.
Article Synopsis
- Laizhou Bay, an important aquaculture region in northern China, is experiencing mild eutrophication which impacts microbial populations and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during net culture.
- A study collected 142 water samples to analyze how mariculture affects microbial community structure, revealing that microbial abundance and complexity increased, particularly in sediment.
- Key findings indicate specific microbial populations thrive in mariculture areas, with sediment ARGs more sensitive to factors like oxygen levels and salinity, underscoring the complex interactions within this ecosystem.
Article Synopsis
- The mitochondrial genome of a specific species within the Columbidae family was sequenced for the first time, revealing structural similarities and minor variations in gene arrangement compared to known members of the family.
- The research gathered 150 mitochondrial datasets to create phylogenetic trees using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, illustrating the evolutionary relationships among different species.
- The study indicates that the species diverged from its relatives approximately 8.1 million years ago, contributing important molecular data to better understand the taxonomy and conservation efforts related to the Columbidae family.
Article Synopsis
- Hyperuricaemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder linked to high uric acid levels and associated health risks, with traditional treatments often causing side effects.
- Fangyukangsuan granules, a natural product, were found to bind to xanthine oxidase (XOD), crucial for uric acid metabolism, leading to significant reductions in serum uric acid and related biochemical indices in HUA-model rats.
- Additionally, these granules positively influenced intestinal microbiota by altering its structure, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for managing HUA and improving gut health.
Article Synopsis
- Piper longum L. is traditionally used for gastrointestinal and neurological issues, with its main component, piperine (PIP), showing potential neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease due to its role in degrading the harmful protein α-Synuclein (α-Syn).
- The study aims to investigate how PIP influences gut-brain autophagy signaling pathways to reduce α-Syn in both the colon and substantia nigra of rat models for Parkinson’s disease.
- Results indicate that PIP enhances motor function, lessens gastrointestinal problems, decreases α-Syn aggregation, and activates autophagy pathways linked to the degradation of α-Syn, signaling its possible therapeutic role in PD.
Article Synopsis
- Przevalski's partridge (Alectoris magna) is a bird species native to certain provinces in China, previously classified as a single species but now recognized to have two subspecies based on physical characteristics.
- A comprehensive genome assembly for A. magna was created using advanced sequencing techniques, resulting in a 1135.01 Mb genome with high completeness and organization across 20 chromosomes.
- The newly assembled genome, containing over 19,000 functionally annotated protein-coding genes, offers valuable resources for future studies on genetics and conservation of this species.
The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of (Reeve, 1847).
Mitochondrial DNA B Resour
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study sequenced and described the complete mitochondrial genome of a specific Polyplacophora species, measuring 16,572 bp and consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes.
- The mitochondrial genome showed a strong AT bias in its base composition, with 70.1% of the bases being adenine or thymine.
- Phylogenetic analysis using sequences from the 13 protein-coding genes demonstrated that the studied species and two others form sister groups within their evolutionary lineages.
White kidney beans contain α-amylase inhibitors that can be used in diet for weight reduction. In this study, we investigated the potential of white kidney bean ( L.) extract enriched in α-amylase inhibitor as a food additive in yogurt to regulate blood glucose in hyperglycemic animals.
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- Mollusca is the largest marine phylum, making up about 23% of all named marine species, but its classification is complicated by human impact on reproduction and development.
- An effort was made to document and analyze the mitochondrial genomes of mollusks through the establishment of the Mollusca mitochondrial database (MODB) at Yantai University.
- The MODB contains data on 616 sequenced species and offers various analysis tools, including a phylogenetic tree to visualize evolutionary relationships, supporting researchers in studying molluskan biology.
Article Synopsis
- This paper discusses a new hybrid algorithm designed to enhance multi-level threshold image segmentation, a common technique used for segmenting color images.
- The method addresses the challenges of finding the optimal threshold by optimizing the calculation of neighborhood mean and median values.
- Experimental results using the CEC2015 dataset and classic images demonstrate significant improvements in segmentation performance across various metrics, indicating increased efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Article Synopsis
- The avian colibacillosis outbreak is a serious disease affecting public health, poultry production, and the economy, with E. coli being a significant pathogen involved.
- Using whole microbial genome shotgun sequencing, researchers found that not only E. coli but also other pathogenic bacteria levels rose in diseased chickens.
- The study revealed that non-E. coli strains contribute to E. coli's survival against antibiotics and that certain pathogenic behaviors enhance their ability to thrive in the gut, pointing to new treatment possibilities from a metagenomic viewpoint.
Article Synopsis
- Whole metagenome shotgun sequencing is used to explore the functional potential of microbial communities, but existing methods face limitations in database coverage and data utilization.
- A new method called read-based metagenomics profiling for unestablished database (RBUD) has been proposed, which leverages the Metagenome Database of Global Microorganisms (MDGM) to address these issues.
- In tests involving intestinal bacteria from chicken diseases and type 2 diabetes, RBUD outperformed existing methods in terms of protein detection, read mapping, and alignment with classical studies, while also offering faster analysis without sample size restrictions.
Article Synopsis
- Lung cancer remains a major health issue, often detected in later stages due to lack of symptoms, highlighting the need for early diagnostic markers.
- Researchers analyzed circulating exosomal miRNA from early-stage lung adenocarcinoma patients and healthy controls, identifying miR-342-5p and miR-574-5p as promising biomarkers.
- These miRNAs not only showed higher levels in cancer patients but also decreased after tumor removal, suggesting their potential as reliable diagnostic indicators for early lung cancer detection.
Synaptotagmin-7 is a key factor for bipolar-like behavioral abnormalities in mice.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2020
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the unknown causes of bipolar disorder (BD), suggesting that some key signaling pathways may play a significant role in its development, particularly in certain patient subgroups.
- Using neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of BD patients, researchers focused on insulin/synapse-related genes, identifying synaptotagmin-7 (Syt7) as a potential risk factor linked to mood fluctuations.
- They observed that Syt7 knockout mice exhibited manic and depressive-like symptoms similar to BD and responded positively to established BD medications, while reduced Syt7 levels were found in BD patient plasma compared to healthy controls, indicating its relevance in the disorder.
[Regulatory effect of traditional Chinese medicine on intestinal microbiota].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi
January 2019
Article Synopsis
- The intestinal microbiota is a crucial part of the human body and is linked to various diseases.
- Research indicates that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can help maintain a balanced gut ecosystem.
- This review focuses on recent studies that explore how different TCM ingredients and herbal formulas regulate gut bacteria, aiming to guide future TCM research and development.