Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Dynamic Control of Multiple Optical Patterns of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microdroplets by Light-Driven Molecular Motors

The key to high-level encryption and anti-counterfeiting techniques is the storage of multiple levels of distinct information that can be individually and precisely addressed by certain stimuli. This continues to be a formidable challenge as the concealed images or codes must be read with fast response and high resolution without cross-talk to the first layer of information. Here, we report a non-fluorescence-based strategy to establish responsive encryption labels taking advantage of solely tuning multiple optical patterns of cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) microdroplets doped with light-driven molecular motors. The photo-triggered unidirectional rotation of the motor induced not only changes in the helical twist power value but the opposite helical orientation of the superstructure in CLCs as well, resulting in changes in both the structural color and the selective reflection of circularly polar light. The designed labels, which featured highly selective addressability of dual-level distinct information, good reversibility, and viewing angle-independence, were applied to build devices for daily practical use, demonstrating great potential in anti-counterfeiting technology and provide a versatile platform for enhanced data protection and encryption of authentic information.</p

The mean reticulocyte volume is a valuable index in early diagnosis of cancer-related anemia

Background Cancer-related anemia (CRA) is a functional iron deficient anemia, and the early diagnosis will improve the prognosis of the patients. This prospective study aimed to investigate the utility of mean reticulocyte volume (MRV) in the early diagnosis of CRA. Methods A total of 284 first-diagnosed cancer patients were enrolled, and the subjects were assigned anemia and non-anemia groups by hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. The mature RBC and reticulocyte indices were detected with BC-7500 blood analyzer, and the MRV, reticulocyte hemoglobin (RHE) content, and reticulocyte production index (RPI) were obtained. ROC curves were constructed in identifying anemia diagnosed by the combination of RHE and RPI. An adjusted multivariate analyse and quartiles were used to assess the associations of MRV with early CRA diagnosed by combining RBC indices (MCV, MCH and MCHC), respectively. Results No statistical differences were observed in MCV, RHE and MRV levels between anemia and non-anemia subjects (p > 0.05). MRV exhibited a complete or high correlation with the RHE levels (r = 1.000, p < 0.001), or MCV, MCH, and MCHC in anemia patients (R: 0.575–0.820, p < 0.001). ROC curves analyse indicated a highest area under curve of 0.829 (95% CI [0.762–0.895]) and 0.884 (95% CI [0.831–0.936]) for MRV in identifying anemia in male and female patients, respectively (p < 0.001). When the optimal cutoff values of MRV were set at 100.95 fl in males and 98.35 fl in females, the sensitivity and specificity were 1.00 and 0.68, and 1.00 and 0.73, respectively. The regression analyse showed that, when being as a categorical variable, MRV showed an odds ratio of 19.111 (95% CI [6.985–52.288]; p < 0.001) for the incidence of CRA. The incidence of overall anemia demonstrated a more significant decrease trend along with the increase of MRV quartiles (p-trend < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the MRV can be used as a convenient and sensitive index in early diagnosis of cancer-related anemia, and decreased MRV level may be the powerful predictor of overt anemia in cancer patients

Effect of Miscellaneous Meal Replacements for Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters, and Gut Microbiota of 50–75 kg Growing Pigs

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of miscellaneous meal (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as a replacement for soybean meal on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, serum free amino acid contents, and gut microbiota of 50–75 kg growing pigs. A total of 54 healthy growing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with initial body weights (BWs) of 50.64 ± 2.09 kg were randomly divided into three treatment groups, which included the corn–soybean meal group (CON), corn–soybean–miscellaneous meal group (CSM), and corn–miscellaneous meal group (CM). Each treatment included six replicates with three pigs in each replicate. Dietary protein levels were maintained at 15% in all three treatment groups. Additional rapeseed meals, cottonseed meals, and sunflower seed meals were added to the CSM group’s meals to partially replace the 10.99% soybean meal in the CON group in a 1:1:1 ratio. Pigs in the CM group were fed a diet with a mixture of miscellaneous meals (7.69% rapeseed meal, 7.69% cottonseed meal, and 7.68% sunflower seed meal) to totally replace soybean meal. Our findings revealed that there was no significant impact of replacing soybean meal with miscellaneous meal on the ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake), or F/G (feed-to-gain ratio) (p > 0.05) of growing pigs weighing 50–75 kg, nor on the crude protein, crude fat, or gross energy (p > 0.05) of the diet. On the other hand, compared to the CON group, the CM group exhibited significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TG) levels (p p p > 0.05) following the substitution of soybean meal with miscellaneous meal. A t-test analysis indicated that compared with the CON group, the CM group exhibited a significantly diminished abundance of Euryachaeota at the phylum level and augmented abundance of Desulfobacterota at the genus level. This study demonstrated that the miscellaneous meals (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as a substitute for soybean meal in the diet had no significant negative effects on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum amino acid content, or diversity of fecal microbiota in 50–75 kg growing pigs. These results can be helpful in developing further miscellaneous meals (rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, and sunflower seed meal) as functional alternative feed ingredients to soybean meal in pig diets

Beneficial effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) extract residue as a feed additive on production, health status, and gastrointestinal bacteria in sika deer (Cervus nippon)

American ginseng residue is an industrial by-product of ginseng saponin extraction, including polysaccharides and amino acids; however, it is often discarded into the natural environment, representing a waste of resources as well as an environmental issue. In this study, we examined the effects of adding American ginseng residue to the basal diet of sika deer. Twelve antler-bearing male sika deer were assigned randomly to groups fed a diet supplemented with 0% (CON), 1% (LGR), and 3% (HGR) American ginseng residue, respectively, (n = 4 per group) for 5 weeks. Supplementation with 3% American ginseng residue significantly increased antler production and feed utilization efficiency in antler-bearing sika deer (p &lt; 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes among the three groups, but serum immunoglobulin A and glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly increased in the LGR and HGR groups (p &lt; 0.05). Supplementation with American ginseng residue affected rumen fermentation in sika deer, significantly increasing the rumen contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total volatile fatty acids, and decreasing rumen fluid pH (p &lt; 0.05), but had no significant effect on microbial protein or ammoniacal nitrogen content. American ginseng residue also affected the rumen bacterial composition, with significant up-regulation of Bacteroidota abundance in the HGR group, significant increases in Fibrobacterota and Fibrobacter abundance in the LGR group, and a significant decrease in Oscillospiraceae_UCG-005. Supplementation with ginseng residue had no significant effect on volatile fatty acids in the feces of sika deer, but did affect the composition of fecal bacteria, with significant decreases in Desulfobacterota and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group in the HGR group, and a significant increase in Ruminococcus in the LGR group (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, the abundance of Paeniclostridium in the feces decreased linearly with increasing concentration of ginseng residue, with a significant difference among the groups (p &lt; 0.05). This study comprehensively evaluated the effects of American ginseng residue as a potential feed additive on the production performance and gastrointestinal bacterial community in antler-bearing sika deer. The results indicated that ginseng residue was a suitable feed additive for improving production performance and health in sika deer

ENKUR recruits FBXW7 to ubiquitinate and degrade MYH9 and further suppress MYH9‐induced deubiquitination of β‐catenin to block gastric cancer metastasis

Abstract Enkurin, TRPC Channel Interacting Protein (ENKUR) was shown as a suppressor in some tumors. However, the biological role of ENKUR on gastric cancer (GC) and its related molecular mechanisms is not clear. Here, we first observed that ENKUR significantly inhibited cell migration, invasion, and metastasis in GC. The molecular basis showed β‐catenin‐mediated epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling was inactivated in ENKUR‐overexpressing GC cells. In addition, ENKUR knockdown markedly restored cell migration and invasion. Subsequently, ENKUR bound to MYH9 and decreased its protein expression by recruiting E3 ubiquitin ligase F‐Box And WD Repeat Domain Containing 7 (FBXW7) to form an ubiquitinated degradation complex. The downregulated Myosin Heavy Chain 9 (MYH9) protein weakened the recruitment of the deubiquitinase USP2 and thus promoted the degradation of β‐catenin protein, which finally suppressed EMT signaling. Finally, the oncogenic transcription factor c‐Jun bound to ENKUR promoter and reduced its expression in GC. In clinical samples, decreased ENKUR expression promoted the unfavorable prognosis of GC. Our data proved the vital role of ENKUR on suppressing cell migration, invasion, and metastasis and demonstrated its potential as a therapeutic target for GC

A donor polymer based on 3-cyanothiophene with superior batch-to-batch reproducibility for high-efficiency organic solar cells

The realization of high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) relies largely on donor polymers. However, high-performance donor polymers are limited to a handful of building blocks, which usually suffer from lengthy synthesis and high production cost. Moreover, most donor polymers exhibited strong batch-to-batch variation. Herein, we report a new building block, 3-cyanothiophene (CT), which features a very simple asymmetric structure and facile synthesis. The donor polymer (PBCT-2F) based on the CT unit realized a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.1%. More importantly, PBCT-2F exhibited excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility. The six polymer batches with molecular weights ranging from 18 to 74 kDa produced very similar PCEs: 15.9-17.1% and 12.7-13.2% when the polymer was blended with Y6 and IT-4F, respectively. These results suggest the great potential of PBCT-2F for industrial synthesis and large-scale manufacturing of OSC modules. This work also demonstrates the bright future of CT units for constructing high-performance donor polymers