Phylogenetic signal in gut microbial community rather than in rodent metabolic traits

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32090020, 32271575, 32070449, 31872232, and 32270508) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDPB16).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Research on the biological mechanism and potential application of CEMIP

Cell migration–inducing protein (CEMIP), also known as KIAA1199 and hyaluronan-binding protein involved in hyaluronan depolymerization, is a new member of the hyaluronidase family that degrades hyaluronic acid (HA) and remodels the extracellular matrix. In recent years, some studies have reported that CEMIP can promote the proliferation, invasion, and adhesion of various tumor cells and can play an important role in bacterial infection and arthritis. This review focuses on the pathological mechanism of CEMIP in a variety of diseases and expounds the function of CEMIP from the aspects of inhibiting cell apoptosis, promoting HA degradation, inducing inflammatory responses and related phosphorylation, adjusting cellular microenvironment, and regulating tissue fibrosis. The diagnosis and treatment strategies targeting CEMIP are also summarized. The various functions of CEMIP show its great potential application value

Stakeholder efforts to mitigate antiretroviral therapy interruption among people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected antiretroviral therapy (ART) continuity among people living with HIV (PLHIV) worldwide. We conducted a qualitative study to explore barriers to ART maintenance and solutions to ART interruption when stringent COVID-19 control measures were implemented in China, from the perspective of PLHIV and relevant key stakeholders. METHODS: Between 11 February and 15 February 2020, we interviewed PLHIV, community-based organization (CBO) workers, staff from centres for disease control and prevention (CDC) at various levels whose work is relevant to HIV care (CDC staff), HIV doctors and nurses and drug vendors from various regions in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a messaging and social media app. Challenges and responses relevant to ART continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed. Themes were identified by transcript coding and mindmaps. RESULTS: Sixty-four stakeholders were recruited, including 16 PLHIV, 17 CBO workers, 15 CDC staff, 14 HIV doctors and nurses and two drug vendors. Many CDC staff, HIV doctors and nurses responsible for ART delivery and HIV care were shifted to COVID-19 response efforts. Barriers to ART maintenance were (a) travel restrictions, (b) inadequate communication and bureaucratic obstacles, (c) shortage in personnel, (d) privacy concerns, and (e) insufficient ART reserve. CBO helped PLHIV maintain access to ART through five solutions identified from thematic analysis: (a) coordination to refill ART from local CDC clinics or hospitals, (b) delivery of ART by mail, (c) privacy protection measures, (d) mental health counselling, and (e) providing connections to alternative sources of ART. Drug vendors contributed to ART maintenance by selling out-of-pocket ART. CONCLUSIONS: Social and institutional disruption from COVID-19 contributed to increased risk of ART interruption among PLHIV in China. Collaboration among key stakeholders was needed to maintain access to ART, with CBO playing an important role. Other countries facing ART interruption during current or future public health emergencies may learn from the solutions employed in China

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Historical development of Chinese Companies' involvement in Global Health

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2023This study explores the intricate landscape of global health governance, driven by the imperative to address pressing challenges in funding, governance, and development. With a focus on Chinese companies' engagement, the research aims to uncover their role in advancing global health responsibility. Employing a robust methodology encompassing literature review, case studies, and key informant interviews, the study delves into China's unique context and the evolving role of corporations. The research uncovers the motivations, challenges, and strategies behind Chinese companies' participation in global health initiatives, shedding light on their contributions. By analyzing diverse case studies, the study elucidates the strategies adopted by biopharmaceutical, infrastructure, and technology companies to align corporate social responsibility with global health goals. The research concludes by underscoring the significance of a collaborative multi-sector approach, envisioning a healthier and more equitable global health landscape. Despite inherent limitations, this study contributes valuable insights to the understanding of global health governance and the pivotal role of emerging actors like Chinese companies

Effect of Dietary Compound Acidifiers Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters, and Body Composition of Juvenile American Eel (<i>Anguilla rostrata</i>)

As growth-promoting feed additives, compound acidifiers (CAs) have been widely reported in many farmed fish species, whereas there is little information on the application of CAs in the eel diet. The present trial was conducted to evaluate the supplementation effects of CAs on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and body composition of the juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata). The CAs supplementation levels in the diet of American eel were 0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 g/kg, respectively. The trial lasted for 12 weeks. The most beneficial effects of CAs on promoting growth performance, decreasing levels of serum lipid, modifying parameters of the liver function and immune function in the serum, and increasing the utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the diet were observed in the fish fed with 4.0 g/kg CAs. Dietary CAs supplementation had no significant effects on the body composition of whole fish, whereas 5.0 g/kg of dietary CAs supplementation exerted negative effects on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. The recommended level of CAs in the diet was 3.5–3.7 g/kg to achieve the optimal weight gain and feed conversion ratio for the juvenile American eel

SACN: A Novel Rotating Face Detector Based on Architecture Search

Rotation-Invariant Face Detection (RIPD) has been widely used in practical applications; however, the problem of the adjusting of the rotation-in-plane (RIP) angle of the human face still remains. Recently, several methods based on neural networks have been proposed to solve the RIP angle problem. However, these methods have various limitations, including low detecting speed, model size, and detecting accuracy. To solve the aforementioned problems, we propose a new network, called the Searching Architecture Calibration Network (SACN), which utilizes architecture search, fully convolutional network (FCN) and bounding box center cluster (CC). SACN was tested on the challenging Multi-Oriented Face Detection Data Set and Benchmark (MOFDDB) and achieved a higher detecting accuracy and almost the same speed as existing detectors. Moreover, the average angle error is optimized from the current 12.6° to 10.5°

SACN: A Novel Rotating Face Detector Based on Architecture Search

Rotation-Invariant Face Detection (RIPD) has been widely used in practical applications; however, the problem of the adjusting of the rotation-in-plane (RIP) angle of the human face still remains. Recently, several methods based on neural networks have been proposed to solve the RIP angle problem. However, these methods have various limitations, including low detecting speed, model size, and detecting accuracy. To solve the aforementioned problems, we propose a new network, called the Searching Architecture Calibration Network (SACN), which utilizes architecture search, fully convolutional network (FCN) and bounding box center cluster (CC). SACN was tested on the challenging Multi-Oriented Face Detection Data Set and Benchmark (MOFDDB) and achieved a higher detecting accuracy and almost the same speed as existing detectors. Moreover, the average angle error is optimized from the current 12.6° to 10.5°