Suppressed Recombination of Sex Chromosomes Is Not Caused by Chromosomal Reciprocal Translocation in Spiny Frog (Quasipaa boulengeri)

Chromosome rearrangements (CRs) are perceived to be related to sex chromosome evolution, but it is a matter of controversy whether CRs are the initial causative mechanism of suppressed recombination for sex differentiation. The early stages of sex chromosome evolution in amphibians may represent intermediate states of differentiation, and if so, they potentially shed light on the ultimate cause of suppressed recombination and the role of CRs in sex chromosome differentiation. In this paper, we showed that sex determination differs among 16 populations of spiny frog (Quasipaa boulengeri), in which individuals have normal and rearranged chromosomes caused by reciprocal translocation. In eastern areas, without translocation, genetic differentiation between sexes was relatively low, suggesting unrestricted recombination. In comparison, in western populations that have both normal and translocated chromosomes, a male-heterogametic system and lack of X-Y recombination were identified by male-specific alleles and heterozygote excess. However, such genetic differentiation between sexes in western populations was not directly related to karyotypes, as it was found in individuals with both normal and translocated karyotypes. In the western Sichuan Basin, male-specific and translocation-specific allelic frequency distributions suggested that recombination of sex-differentiation ceased in all populations, but recombination suppression caused by translocation did not exist in some populations. Combined with phylogenetic inference, this indicated that the establishment of sex-linkage had taken place independently of reciprocal translocation, and translocation was not the ultimate cause of sex chromosome differentiation. Furthermore, comparison of the genetic diversity of alleles on Y chromosomes, X chromosomes, and autosomes in western populations showed a reduction of effective population size on sex chromosomes, which may be caused by reciprocal translocation. It indicates that, although it is not the ultimate cause of recombination suppression, reciprocal translocation may enhance sex chromosome differentiation

Social Preference Deficits in Juvenile Zebrafish Induced by Early Chronic Exposure to Sodium Valproate

Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate (VPA), a widely used anti-epileptic drug, is related to a series of dysfunctions, such as deficits in language and communication. Clinical and animal studies have indicated that the effects of VPA are related to the concentration and to the exposure window, while the neurobehavioral effects of VPA have received limited research attention. In the current study, to analyze the neurobehavioral effects of VPA, zebrafish at 24 hours post-fertilization (hpf) were treated with early chronic exposure to 20 μM VPA for 7 hours per day for 6 days or with early acute exposure to 100 μM VPA for 7 hours. A battery of behavioral screenings was conducted at 1 month of age to investigate social preference, locomotor activity, anxiety and behavioral response to light change. A social preference deficit was only observed in animals with chronic VPA exposure. Acute VPA exposure induced a change in the locomotor activity, while chronic VPA exposure did not affect locomotor activity. Neither exposure procedure influenced anxiety or the behavioral response to light change. These results suggested that VPA has the potential to affect some behaviors in zebrafish, such as social behavior and the locomotor activity, and that the effects were closely related to the concentration and the exposure window. Additionally, social preference seemed to be independent from other simple behaviors

Soy Isoflavone Reduces Lps-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Increasing Aquaporin 1 and Aquaporin 5 in Rats

Acute lung injury (ALI) followed with severe inflammation and oxidative stress. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant are the properties of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin 5 (AQP5). The goal of this study was to see if soy isoflavone can diminish lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and the underling mechanism. LPS-induced ALI was given to Sprague-Dawley rats 14 days following oophorectomy. One hour before the LPS challenge, estradiol (1 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously as positive control and soy isoflavone was intragastric administration for 14 days prior to LPS challenge with different doses. Six hours after LPS challenge, the pulmonary edema, pathophysiology, inflammation, and the oxidative stress in lung tissues of rats were discovered. We found that soy isoflavone can reduce pulmonary edema and the lung pathology in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 were decreased in rats treated with soy isoflavone. Meanwhile, soy isoflavone reduced pulmonary oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde levels, while increasing superoxide dismutase levels in lung tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanically, we found that the mRNA and protein level of AQP1 and AOP5 were increased in lung tissues of rats treated with soy isoflavone compared the LPS-treated rats. Thus, soy isoflavone alleviates LPS-induced ALI through inducing AQP1 and AQP5

Application of a traction metal clip with a fishhook-like device in wound sutures after endoscopic resection

Background/Aims Endoscopic wound suturing is an important factor that affects the ability to remove large and full-thickness lesions during endoscopic resection. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a traction metal clip with a fishhook-like device on wound sutures after endoscopic resection. Methods From July 2020 to April 2021, patients who met the enrollment criteria were treated with a fishhook-like device during the operation to suture the postoperative wound (group A). Patients with similar conditions and similar size wounds who were treated with a “purse-string suture” to suture the wounds were retrospectively analyzed as the control group (group B). Difference in the suture rate, adverse events, time required for suturing, and number of metal clips were compared between the two groups. Results The time required for suturing was 7.72±0.51 minutes in group A and 11.50±0.91 minutes in group B. This difference was statistically significant (F=13.071, p=0.001). The number of metal clamps used in group A averaged 8.1 pieces/case, and the number of metal clamps used in group B averaged 7.3 pieces/case. This difference was not statistically significant (F=0.971, p=0.331). Conclusions The traction metal clip with the fishhook-like device is ingeniously designed and easy to operate. It has a good suture effect on the wound after endoscopic submucosal dissection and effectively prevents postoperative adverse events

Phosphorus fractions and alkaline phosphatase activity in sediments of a large eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu)

Spatial, vertical, and seasonal variations in phosphorus fractions and in alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were investigated in sediments in a large-shallow eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu) in 2003-2004. The phosphorus content was highest in the most seriously polluted lake area. Iron-bound phosphorus (Fe(OOH)-P) dominated (47% on average) among the phosphorus fractions determined according to Golterman (Hydrobiologia 335:87-95, 1996). Notably, organically-bound P comprised a further significant additional portion (acid-soluble + hot NaOH-extractable organic P = 25%), which was highest at the most polluted sites. The Fe(OOH)-P content was the lowest in spring (April, 2004), suggesting that degradation of organic matter led to the release of iron-bound phosphates. Sediment APA showed a significant positive relationship with both organically-bound P and Fe(OOH)-P. Consequently, organically-bound P is an important portion of the sediment phosphorus in Lake Taihu. It is mainly derived from freshly-settled autochthonous particles and from external discharges. Organically-bound P induces APA and may lead to the release of bioavailable phosphates from the organic sediments, thereby accelerating lake eutrophication.Spatial, vertical, and seasonal variations in phosphorus fractions and in alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were investigated in sediments in a large-shallow eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu) in 2003-2004. The phosphorus content was highest in the most seriously polluted lake area. Iron-bound phosphorus (Fe(OOH)-P) dominated (47% on average) among the phosphorus fractions determined according to Golterman (Hydrobiologia 335:87-95, 1996). Notably, organically-bound P comprised a further significant additional portion (acid-soluble + hot NaOH-extractable organic P = 25%), which was highest at the most polluted sites. The Fe(OOH)-P content was the lowest in spring (April, 2004), suggesting that degradation of organic matter led to the release of iron-bound phosphates. Sediment APA showed a significant positive relationship with both organically-bound P and Fe(OOH)-P. Consequently, organically-bound P is an important portion of the sediment phosphorus in Lake Taihu. It is mainly derived from freshly-settled autochthonous particles and from external discharges. Organically-bound P induces APA and may lead to the release of bioavailable phosphates from the organic sediments, thereby accelerating lake eutrophication

Sex chromosomal dimorphisms narrated by X-chromosome translocation in a spiny frog (Quasipaa boulengeri)

Abstract Background In the general model of sex chromosome evolution for diploid dioecious organisms, the Y (or W) chromosome is derived, while the homogametic sex presumably represents the ancestral condition. However, in the frog species Quasipaa boulengeri, heteromorphisms caused by a translocation between chromosomes 1 and 6 are not related to sex, because the same heteromorphic chromosomes are found both in males and females at the cytological level. To confirm whether those heteromorphisms are unrelated to sex, a sex-linked locus was mapped at the chromosomal level and sequenced to identify any haplotype difference between sexes. Results Chromosome 1 was assigned to the sex chromosome pair by mapping the sex-linked locus. X-chromosome translocation was demonstrated and confirmed by the karyotypes of the progeny. Translocation heteromorphisms were involved in normal and translocated X chromosomes in the rearranged populations. Based on phylogenetic inference using both male and female sex-linked haplotypes, recombination was suppressed not only between the Y and normal X chromosomes, respectively the Y and translocated X chromosomes, but also between the normal and translocated X chromosomes. Both males and females shared not only the same translocation heteromorphisms but also the X chromosomal dimorphisms in this frog. Conclusions The reverse of the typical situation, in which the X is derived and the Y has remained unchanged, is known to be very rare. In the present study, X-chromosome translocation has been known to cause sex chromosomal dimorphisms. The X chromosome has gone processes of genetic differentiation and/or structural changes by chance, which may facilitate sex chromosome differentiation. These sex chromosomal dimorphisms presenting in both sexes may represent the early stages of sex chromosome differentiation and aid in understanding sex chromosome evolution

Suppressed Recombination of Sex Chromosomes Is Not Caused by Chromosomal Reciprocal Translocation in Spiny Frog (Quasipaa boulengeri)

Chromosome rearrangements (CRs) are perceived to be related to sex chromosome evolution, but it is a matter of controversy whether CRs are the initial causative mechanism of suppressed recombination for sex differentiation. The early stages of sex chromosome evolution in amphibians may represent intermediate states of differentiation, and if so, they potentially shed light on the ultimate cause of suppressed recombination and the role of CRs in sex chromosome differentiation. In this paper, we showed that sex determination differs among 16 populations of spiny frog (Quasipaa boulengen), in which individuals have normal and rearranged chromosomes caused by reciprocal translocation. In eastern areas, without translocation, genetic differentiation between sexes was relatively low, suggesting unrestricted recombination. In comparison, in western populations that have both normal and translocated chromosomes, a male-heterogametic system and lack of X-Y recombination were identified by male-specific alleles and heterozygote excess. However, such genetic differentiation between sexes in western populations was not directly related to karyotypes, as it was found in individuals with both normal and translocated karyotypes. In the western Sichuan Basin, male-specific and translocation-specific allelic frequency distributions suggested that recombination of sex-differentiation ceased in all populations, but recombination suppression caused by translocation did not exist in some populations. Combined with phylogenetic inference, this indicated that the establishment of sex-linkage had taken place independently of reciprocal translocation, and translocation was not the ultimate cause of sex chromosome differentiation. Furthermore, comparison of the genetic diversity of alleles on Y chromosomes, X chromosomes, and autosomes in western populations showed a reduction of effective population size on sex chromosomes, which may be caused by reciprocal translocation. It indicates that, although it is not the ultimate cause of recombination suppression, reciprocal translocation may enhance sex chromosome differentiation

Innovations to Attribute Reduction of Covering Decision System Based on Conditional Information Entropy

Traditional rough set theory is mainly used to reduce attributes and extract rules in databases in which attributes are characterised by partitions, which the covering rough set theory, a generalisation of traditional rough set theory, covers. In this article, we posit a method to reduce the attributes of covering decision systems, which are databases incarnated in the form of covers. First, we define different covering decision systems and their attributes’ reductions. Further, we describe the necessity and sufficiency for reductions. Thereafter, we construct a discernible matrix to design algorithms that compute all the reductions of covering decision systems. Finally, the above methods are illustrated using a practical example and the obtained results are contrasted with other results