Integrated analysis of lncRNA and mRNA repertoires in Marek’s disease infected spleens identifies genes relevant to resistance

Marek’s disease virus (MDV) is an oncogenic herpesvirus that can cause T-cell lymphomas in chicken. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is strongly associated with various cancers and many other diseases. In chickens, lncRNAs have not been comprehensively identified. Here, we profiled mRNA and lncRNA repertoires in three groups of spleens from MDV-infected and non-infected chickens, including seven tumorous spleens (TS) from MDV-infected chickens, five spleens from the survivors (SS) without lesions after MDV infection, and five spleens from noninfected chickens (NS), to explore the underlying mechanism of host resistance in Marek’s disease (MD).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-019-5625-

Remission of symptoms is not equal to functional recovery: Psychosocial functioning impairment in major depression

The ultimate goal of depression treatment is to achieve functional recovery. Psychosocial functioning is the main component of functional impairment in depressed patients. The concept of psychosocial functioning has an early origin; however, its concept and connotation are still ambiguous, which is the basic and key problem faced by the relevant research and clinical application. In this study, we start from the paradox of symptoms remission and functional recovery, describe the concept, connotation, and characteristics of psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients, and re-emphasize its importance in depression treatment to promote research and clinical applications related to psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients to achieve functional recovery

Does rituximab improve clinical outcomes of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The current therapies of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) were still a challenging matter. In this study, we aimed to contrast the impact of before- after rituximab (RTX) therapy in the patients with TAO. Methods We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases for articles published up to July 3, 2017. Fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis was used to provide pooled estimates of standard mean difference (SMD) both the primary outcome from clinical activity score (CAS), and secondary outcomes from thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb), proptosis, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. In addition, the quality and each study was assessed using either the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) or the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and reliability of the meta-analytic result using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Results Of the 839 articles initially searched, 11 studies were finally eligible for inclusion. Subgroup analysis results showed that comparing with initial value, there was a decline in CAS at 1,3,6,12 month after RTX treatment, decreased TRAbs level at 6,12 month, proptosis improvement at least 1 month, unchanged IL-6 level at 6 month, decreased TSH level at 3 month but unchanged at 12 month. All included studies were classified as good quality. Conclusions The pooled data suggested that the preliminary effects of RTX treatment on TAO might be promising. However, more large-sample and high-quality studies targeting RTX use during this disease and long-term surveillance of prognosis are urgently needed

Performance evaluation and application of a new phase permeability improver system

A novel hydrophobically associating polymer (HHA-RPM) was synthesized by a solution polymerization method with a modified acrylamide (AM) as the main component and implanting an anionic group. The static adsorptivity of the polymer was measured by an ultraviolet visible light photometer with an adsorption amount of about 11.0 mg/g. The influence of concentration, temperature and salinity on the apparent viscosity of the polymer solution system was investigated indoorally, and the HHA-RPM system was prepared. In view of the on-site requirements for the timeliness of the phase permeability improver, an antioxidant was added to the system to evaluate the durability of the HHA-RPM system

Analysis of the Genotype Interaction of Four-Year-Old <i>Populus euramericana</i> Using the BLUP-GGE Technique

Poplar is a commercially globalized tree species that provides energy and economic and ecological support. To evaluate the twelve hybrid Populus euramericana genotypes developed in China, a total of six locations were selected for the current study, comprising four climatic types and three kinds of soil. The objective of this study was to characterize the early stages of Populus euramericana growth and to test the locations; to identify good genotypes for stable and high yield; and to offer practical experience and technical assistance for further breeding of Populus euramericana. The main research methods included the statistical description of tree heights and diameter at breast height (DBH), the establishment of a mixed effect model to analyze the genotype and environmental interaction effect (G × E), the use of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values as GGE biplots to achieve visual screening, and the calculation of genetic parameters. Results show that the genotype effect (G), the environmental effect (E), and the G × E interaction is significant; the BLUP value has a strong correspondence with the observed value; the goodness of fit of all biplots can explain more than 85% of the variation; the broad-sense heritability of tree height and DBH is 0.13 and 0.3, respectively; and the type-B correlation is 0.36 and 0.65. In addition, G5, G7, G4, and G9 are excellent genotypes with high yield and stability; using the tree height and DBH of these four genotypes can achieve genetic gains of 3.35% and 0.81%. The conclusions of this study are as follows: the rank-change and scale-effect interactions were distinct; G, E, and G × E all had a significant effect on the growth of poplar trees during their early stage; G4, G5, G7, and G9 genotypes have favorable development characteristics; and N146 is an excellent source of paternal genetics

Modeling of light coupling effect using tunneling theory based on particle properties of light

Based on the wave-particle duality of light, the Schrödinger equation for a photon as a particle is established to treat the light coupling effect by introducing concepts of the virtual mass and potential for a photon, which is different from the previous method that uses the analogy with quantum mechanics. The virtual mass is physically correlated to the kinetic energy according to Einstein’s energy–momentum relation. As a consequence, this new model has merits of physical simplicity and analytic nature. This new model can well explain the exponential dependence of the light coupling effect on the physical parameters in coupled waveguides on, which can be observed in the experimental and simulation data reported in the literature. Moreover, an explicit expression for the coupling length (coefficient) on the effects of physical parameters can be obtained by virtue of this new model, whereas the previous