Interaction of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Stem Cell Factor to Promote Primordial Follicle Assembly in the Chicken

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and KIT signaling are required for ovarian development. In this study the interactive effect of FSH and stem cell factor (SCF) on folliculogenesis was investigated in the chicken. Correlated changes between the FSH receptor and the expression of KIT signaling genes were seen to be involved in the formation of the chicken primordial follicles. Follicle-stimulating hormone and SCF displayed a reciprocal stimulating effect in the promotion of folliculogenesis involving elevated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) proteins. Knockdown of c-KIT or SCF reduced the stimulatory effect of FSH on KIT signaling as well as upon MAPK and AKT phosphorylation. Treatment of FSH and SCF in combination enhanced ovarian cell proliferation and N-cadherin expression, but inhibited cell apoptosis and E-cadherin expression. Overall, the reciprocal stimulating effect of FSH and SCF in promoting chicken follicle assembly involving accelerated ovarian cell proliferation, N-cadherin expression, inhibited cell apoptosis, and E-cadherin expression is demonstrated

Ginsenoside Rh1 Improves the Effect of Dexamethasone on Autoantibodies Production and Lymphoproliferation in MRL/lpr Mice

Ginsenoside Rh1 is able to upregulate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level, suggesting Rh1 may improve glucocorticoid efficacy in hormone-dependent diseases. Therefore, we investigated whether Rh1 could enhance the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) in the treatment of MRL/lpr mice. MRL/lpr mice were treated with vehicle, Dex, Rh1, or Dex + Rh1 for 4 weeks. Dex significantly reduced the proteinuria and anti-dsDNA and anti-ANA autoantibodies. The levels of proteinuria and anti-dsDNA and anti-ANA autoantibodies were further decreased in Dex + Rh1 group. Dex, Rh1, or Dex + Rh1 did not alter the proportion of CD4+ splenic lymphocytes, whereas the proportion of CD8+ splenic lymphocytes was significantly increased in Dex and Dex + Rh1 groups. Dex + Rh1 significantly decreased the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ splenic lymphocytes compared with control. Con A-induced CD4+ splenic lymphocytes proliferation was increased in Dex-treated mice and was inhibited in Dex + Rh1-treated mice. Th1 cytokine IFN-γ mRNA was suppressed and Th2 cytokine IL-4 mRNA was increased by Dex. The effect of Dex on IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA was enhanced by Rh1. In conclusion, our data suggest that Rh1 may enhance the effect of Dex in the treatment of MRL/lpr mice through regulating CD4+ T cells activation and Th1/Th2 balance

A Long-Lived Accretionary Process during the Amalgamation of the North China Craton: Insights from Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic Polyphase Magmatism in the Lüliang Complex

There has been a long debate regarding the timing of the final amalgamation of the North China Craton, which is considered to have occurred either during the Neoarchean or Paleoproterozoic era. One major point of contention is whether there existed a long-lived subduction lasting through the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. The Lüliang Complex contains multiphases of magmatism and thus represents the most viable region to address this controversy. In this study, we carried geochronological and geochemical analysis on the representative granitoids. Secondary ion mass spectrometry U–Pb dating revealed four distinct granitoid groups emplaced at 2531 ± 4, 2189–2173, 2027 ± 25, and 1852 ± 41 Ma, respectively. Notably, the 2531 Ma granitic gneiss was identified for the first time in this region. Based on the geochemical characteristics, the granitoids can be divided into two types. The 2531 and 2027 Ma groups display I-type features, while the 2189–2173 and 1852 Ma groups exhibit A-type geochemical affinities. Both I-type groups exhibit enrichment in Rb, depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti, moderate fractionated REE patterns, substantial negative Eu anomalies, low Sr/Y ratios, and positive εHf(t) (+3.51 to +5.53 and +5.59 to +7.32, respectively), indicating that they were generated from partial melting of the juvenile mafic crust. In contrast, the 2189–2173 Ma granitoids belong to A2-type and were most likely generated by the partial melting of felsic rocks in the back-arc region, while the 1852 Ma granitoids belong to A1-type and were most possibly the result of partial melting of mafic-intermediate rocks during the post-collisional stage. Based on the records of A-type granitic magmatism and the ~1950 Ma peak metamorphism throughout the Trans-North China Orogen, we propose that a long-lived subduction process (2531–1950 Ma) can mostly explain the existing geological phenomena. It is likely that the subduction between the Eastern and Western Blocks should have commenced at ~2531 Ma, followed by a long-lived subduction. The two blocks ultimately collided with each other to form the North China Craton at ~1950 Ma, which triggered post-collisional exhumation and partial melting at ~1852 Ma

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Alleviates Ovarian Aging by Modulating Mitophagy- and Glycophagy-Based Energy Metabolism in Hens

As a predominant hormone in the reproductive axis, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is known as the primary surviving factor for follicular growth. In this study, the alleviating effect of FSH on aging chicken granulosa cells (GCs) was investigated. Results showed that FSH activated mitophagy and relieved mitochondrial edema in D-gal-induced senescent GCs, which was evidenced by an increased number of mitophagosomes as well as increased mitochondria-light chain 3 (LC3) colocalization. Mitophagy activation was accompanied by the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. Furthermore, upregulated glycophagy was demonstrated by an increased interaction of starch-binding domain protein 1 (STBD1) with GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (GABARAPL1) in D-gal-induced senescent GCs. FSH treatment further promoted glycophagy, accompanied by PI3K/AKT activation. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and AKT inhibitor GSK690693 attenuated the effect of FSH on glycophagy and glycolysis. The inhibition of FSH-mediated autophagy attenuated the protective effect of FSH on naturally aging GC proliferation and glycolysis. The simultaneous blockage of PI3K/AKT and AMPK signaling also abolished the positive effect of FSH on naturally senescent ovarian energy regulation. These data reveal that FSH prevents chicken ovarian aging by modulating glycophagy- and mitophagy-based energy metabolism through the PI3K/AKT and AMPK pathways

Effect of Tip Clearance on the Cavitation Flow in a Shunt Blade Inducer

In order to study the effect of tip clearance on the internal cavitation stability of a shunt blade inducer, an external characteristics experiment of a centrifugal pump with a shunt blade inducer was carried out. Based on the turbulence model and mixture model, the cavitating flow in a centrifugal pump with the inducer was numerically simulated. The influence of tip clearance on the cavitating flow in a shunt inducer was studied and analyzed. Through the research, it was found that tip clearance has a certain influence on the critical cavitation coefficient. The existence of the tip clearance caused a significant leakage vortex near the inducer’s inlet and a strong transient effect was shown. The location and degree of cavitation caused by the tip leakage are clarified in this paper. Tip clearance has a great impact on the pressure distribution on a shunt blade inducer. The influence law of tip clearance on an inducer’s blade load distribution was clarified. The results showed that tip clearance has a significant effect on the cavitation of a shunt blade inducer under low flow rate conditions

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sarcophaga brevicornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophaga brevicornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was of utmost forensic importance due to their wide distribution, ubiquitous, and synanthropic nature. The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of S. brevicornis was first sequenced and assembled in this study. The length of circular mitogenome was 15,152 bp, which showed in a typical arthropod genome, including 13 protein-coding genes (13 PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (two rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (22 tRNA) genes, and an AT-rich region. Its nucleotide composition was A 39.0%, C 12.7%, G 10.6%, and T 37.7%. Furthermore, phylogenetic relationships of S. brevicornis and the published sarcophagid species were evaluated based on 13 PCGs. The results indicated that S. brevicornis was clearly separated from the other sarcophagid species, but it was closed to the species of Sarcophaga similis. This study provided a significant database reference for genetic structure and phylogenetic analysis of Sarcophagidae

Effect of Tip Clearance on the Cavitation Flow in a Shunt Blade Inducer

In order to study the effect of tip clearance on the internal cavitation stability of a shunt blade inducer, an external characteristics experiment of a centrifugal pump with a shunt blade inducer was carried out. Based on the turbulence model and mixture model, the cavitating flow in a centrifugal pump with the inducer was numerically simulated. The influence of tip clearance on the cavitating flow in a shunt inducer was studied and analyzed. Through the research, it was found that tip clearance has a certain influence on the critical cavitation coefficient. The existence of the tip clearance caused a significant leakage vortex near the inducer’s inlet and a strong transient effect was shown. The location and degree of cavitation caused by the tip leakage are clarified in this paper. Tip clearance has a great impact on the pressure distribution on a shunt blade inducer. The influence law of tip clearance on an inducer’s blade load distribution was clarified. The results showed that tip clearance has a significant effect on the cavitation of a shunt blade inducer under low flow rate conditions

Pupal Age Estimation of <i>Sarcophaga peregrina</i> (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) at Different Constant Temperatures Utilizing ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Cuticular Hydrocarbons

Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a forensically important flesh fly that has potential value in estimating the PMImin. The precise pupal age estimation has great implications for PMImin estimation. During larval development, the age determination is straightforward by the morphological changes and variation of length and weight, however, the pupal age estimation is more difficult due to anatomical and morphological changes not being visible. Thus, it is necessary to find new techniques and methods that can be implemented by standard experiments for accurate pupal age estimation. In this study, we first investigated the potential of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) for the age estimations of S. peregrina pupae at different constant temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). The orthogonal projections latent structure discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) classification model was used to distinguish the pupae samples of different developmental ages. Then, a multivariate statistical regression model, partial least squares (PLS), was established with the spectroscopic and hydrocarbon data for pupal age estimations. We identified 37 CHCs with a carbon chain length between 11 and 35 in the pupae of S. peregrina. The results of the OPLS-DA model show a significant separation between different developmental ages of pupae (R2X > 0.928, R2Y > 0.899, Q2 > 0.863). The PLS model had a satisfactory prediction with a good fit between the actual and predicted ages of the pupae (R2 > 0.927, RMSECV < 1.268). The results demonstrate that the variation tendencies of spectroscopy and hydrocarbons were time-dependent, and ATR-FTIR and CHCs may be optimal for the age estimations of pupae of forensically important flies with implications for PMImin estimation in forensic practice

Pupal Age Estimation of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) at Different Constant Temperatures Utilizing ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Cuticular Hydrocarbons

Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a forensically important flesh fly that has potential value in estimating the PMImin. The precise pupal age estimation has great implications for PMImin estimation. During larval development, the age determination is straightforward by the morphological changes and variation of length and weight, however, the pupal age estimation is more difficult due to anatomical and morphological changes not being visible. Thus, it is necessary to find new techniques and methods that can be implemented by standard experiments for accurate pupal age estimation. In this study, we first investigated the potential of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) for the age estimations of S. peregrina pupae at different constant temperatures (20 &deg;C, 25 &deg;C, and 30 &deg;C). The orthogonal projections latent structure discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) classification model was used to distinguish the pupae samples of different developmental ages. Then, a multivariate statistical regression model, partial least squares (PLS), was established with the spectroscopic and hydrocarbon data for pupal age estimations. We identified 37 CHCs with a carbon chain length between 11 and 35 in the pupae of S. peregrina. The results of the OPLS-DA model show a significant separation between different developmental ages of pupae (R2X &gt; 0.928, R2Y &gt; 0.899, Q2 &gt; 0.863). The PLS model had a satisfactory prediction with a good fit between the actual and predicted ages of the pupae (R2 &gt; 0.927, RMSECV &lt; 1.268). The results demonstrate that the variation tendencies of spectroscopy and hydrocarbons were time-dependent, and ATR-FTIR and CHCs may be optimal for the age estimations of pupae of forensically important flies with implications for PMImin estimation in forensic practice

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sarcophaga caerulescens (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophaga caerulescens (Zetterstedt 1838) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) belongs to Sarcophagidae, which is closely associated with human life in ecological habits and has a clear environmental preference. Sarcophaga caerulescens can be better correlated with migration and postmortem interval (PMI) inference in forensic practice. In this study, we reported the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of S. caerulescens. The length of this mitogenome was 15,720 bp in total (GenBank accession No. MW551788), containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and a non-coding control region. Its nucleotide composition was A (39.7%), C (14.1%), G (9.4%), and T (36.9%). The phylogenetic relationships indicated that the species of S. caerulescens was closely related to S. similis. This study provides the mitochondrial data of S. caerulescens for further study of mitochondrial genome and enriches our understanding of the phylogenetic relationship of sarcophagid flies