To apply genome-based technologies for genetic improvements using marker-assisted selection, geno... more To apply genome-based technologies for genetic improvements using marker-assisted selection, genome research involving genetic linkage mapping and physical mapping is required, and integration of genetic and linkage maps would significantly enhance the capacities for genome research. In catfish, the major aquaculture species in the United States, linkage and physical maps have been constructed. However, integration of genetic linkage and physical maps demands large-scale, genome-wide hybridizations, or genetic mapping of polymorphic markers derived from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones whose locations are known from the physical map. In this work, we identified a large number of microsatellites from BAC end sequences of channel catfish, characterized the microsatellites, tested their utility for linkage mapping in a resource family used for genetic mapping, and constructed a web-searchable database for BAC end sequences, their linked microsatellites, microsatellite primers, PCR conditions, and polymorphic information. A total of 3652 microsatellites in 2744 distinct BACs were identified. Of these, 1100 had sufficient and complex flanking sequences for PCR primer design. We have tested 500 primer pairs and found 211 (42.2%) were polymorphic and segregating in the resource family used for genetic mapping. These microsatellites represent a major fraction of co-dominant polymorphic markers identified to date in catfish, and should be a valuable resource for genetic mapping to increase linkage map resolution, and for integration of genetic linkage and physical maps.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 10495398 2010 505843, Oct 1, 2010
Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species w... more Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species widely cultured in the world, but its genome research resources are largely lacking. The objectives of this study were to construct normalized cDNA libraries for efficient EST analysis, to generate ESTs from these libraries, and to identify EST-related molecular markers such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genetic analysis of this species. A total of 6,269 ESTs were generated representing 4,815 unique sequences, from which 105 putative microsatellites and 5,228 SNPs were identified. These genome resources provide the material basis for future genetic and functional analyses in this species.
Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health p... more Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health professionals. One key concern is whether migrant health professionals provide equivalent health care. We compare the treatment provided by migrant and non-migrant health professionals using administrative data from the Scottish dental system. A difference-indifferences model is estimated to examine whether migrant dentists respond differently to case mix and individual circumstances as compared with their non-migrant counterparts, and assess the extent to which any differences diminish over time. After controlling for both observed and unobserved differences between individual dentists and the cohort of patients that they treat, we find that migrant dentists have marginally different practice styles, and the variation diminishes over time within two years of practice.
ABSTRACT For the first time, this article demonstrated that V2O5 nanowires served as a robust and... more ABSTRACT For the first time, this article demonstrated that V2O5 nanowires served as a robust and efficient peroxidase mimic catalyst in luminol-based chemiluminescence reaction in aqueous media at high temperature. Over 90% of the maximum catalytic activity remained at 70 °C. Singlet oxygen was involved in the CL reaction catalysed by V2O5 nanowires, which was quite different from the traditional catalysts.
In the conventional proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), reagent ions of H 3 O + ... more In the conventional proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), reagent ions of H 3 O + were prepared with a discharge source of water vapor. For the identification of VOCs that can not be detected in conventional PTR-MS, other ions, e.g., NO + and O 2 + , were exploited. However, these ions must be prepared with other reagent gases. In this work, hydroxyl anions OH À were prepared with only water vapor in the discharge source of conventional PTR-MS to develop a novel proton-extraction-reaction mass spectrometry (PER-MS). By using reverse electric fields for ion extraction and ion drift, the reagent ions OH À in the discharge source were introduced into the drift tube in PERMS , and interacted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via proton extraction reaction. The relative abundances of cluster ions (H 2 O) n OH À (n = 0-4) at different reduced fields in the drift tube show the similar characteristic of cluster ions to that in conventional PTR-MS. Some common VOCs were introduced into PERMS , and the deprotonated VOCs were detected. Moreover, carbon dioxide was also detected in PERMS via the association reaction. The results show the ability of PERMS to detect both organic and inorganic compounds. The newly developed PERMS combined with conventional PTR-MS can supply more powerful analytical ability in many application fields. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Self-assembled Ga1−xMnxAs magnetic semiconductor quantum dots have been grown on Si (001) substra... more Self-assembled Ga1−xMnxAs magnetic semiconductor quantum dots have been grown on Si (001) substrates using droplet epitaxy by molecular-beam epitaxy. Structural characterization reveals that these dots possess a zinc-blende lattice. The Ga1−xMnxAs quantum dots with 8% Mn content are ferromagnetically soft and slightly anisotropic at low temperature, and show the superparamagnetic behavior with a blocking temperature of 20 K in the in-plane direction. Moreover, the results of x-ray absorption near edge structure provide direct evidences for the substitutional Mn2+ ion with a half-filled d5 configuration for the Ga site, suggesting the hole-mediated ferromagnetism in zero-dimensional Ga1−xMnxAs quantum dots.
The Yazigou polymetallic deposit,discovered recently by the Qinghai Geological Survey in the Qima... more The Yazigou polymetallic deposit,discovered recently by the Qinghai Geological Survey in the Qimantage area of East Kunlun Mountain,Qinghai Province,is characterized by porphyry-type mineralization.The authors have conducted geochronological study on the samples from the ore-bearing porphyry and orebodies by SHRIMP zircon U-Pb and molybdenite Re-Os dating,respectively.The zircon U-Pb age for the K-feldspar granitic porphyry is 224±1.6 Ma while the Re-Os age of ore molybdenite is 224.7±3.4 Ma,suggesting that diagenesis and mineralization took place coevally with the intense crust-mantle interaction in the East Kunlun orogenic belt in Late Indosinian.Meanwhile,the interaction between crust and mantle resulted in large-scale magmatic-hydrothermal activities and metallogeny.The K-feldspar granitic porphyry is closely related to polymetallic mineralization and the mantle-derived diorite,diabase and gabbro in the area both temporally and spatially.It is refered that that the magmatic intrusives mentioned above are all the products of the crust-mantle interaction.Based on the geochronological study,it is proposed that the Yazigou deposit has the same geodynamical setting as the whole Eastern Kunlun orogenic belt in Late Indosinian.Meanwhile,the authors also point out that there are good potentials for porphyry deposit prospecting in the area.
Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health p... more Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health professionals. One key concern is whether migrant health professionals provide equivalent health care. We compare the treatment provided by migrant and non-migrant ...
To reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Pill () in treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis fro... more To reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Pill () in treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis from the angle of the Wnt signal transduction pathway and to provide further experimental evidence for expounding the scientific connotation of "the kidney dominating the bones" in TCM. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups, control group (n=12), model group (n=15) and Zuogui Pill group (n=15). Form the beginning, The rats were injected dexamethasone for eight weeks to make the model of osteoporosis, and the Zuogui Pill were administered intragastrically to the rats of Zuogui Pill group for eight weeks. The relative morphological parameters were measured in the undecalcified tibial slices. And the protein expression levels of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in rat tibial osteoblasts (OB) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMC) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with the control group, TBV% and TFS% decreased significantly, while TRS% increased significantly, and the protein expression of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in OB and BMC decreased significantly in the model group. And compared with the model group, TBV% and TFS% increased significantly, and expression levels of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin proteins increased significantly in the Zuogui pill group. Conclusion: Zuogui Pill can prevent and treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats by up-regulating the expression of the key signal molecules Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in Wnt signal transduction pathway.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2012
Using a unique administrative data set, we utilize multivariate fixed effects regression models t... more Using a unique administrative data set, we utilize multivariate fixed effects regression models that control for patient characteristics and unobserved heterogeneity across dentists to explore the extent of treatment delivered. Results: Non-UK trained dentists initially provide more treatment than UK-trained dentists, but over approximately two years of practice their treatment converge. Conclusions: As with many OECD countries, the UK relies on foreign-trained health professionals to address workforce shortages and one concern is whether they provide equivalent health care to their domestically trained counterparts. Whilst there is a difference in the amount of treatment provided by UK and non-UK trained dentists, the effect is modest and transitory.
To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect body shape in common carp Cyprinus carpio, ... more To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect body shape in common carp Cyprinus carpio, a linkage map, 2159·23 cM long, was constructed with a total of 307 markers covering 51 linkage groups (LG). The map included 167 new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from expressed sequence tags (EST) together with 140 microsatellite markers reported earlier. A primary genome scan was conducted for QTL for standard length (L(S)), head length (L(H)), body height (H(B)), body width (W(B)) and tail length (L(TAIL)) in an F1 line containing 92 offspring. A total of 15 suggestive QTL on six LGs were found to associate with L(S), L(H), H(B), W(B) and L(TAIL) which explained 10·7-17·4% of the variance. Five significant QTL were detected for body-shape related traits and located for LGs (lg1, 12 and 20). These QTL included: one associated with L(S) (21·1% variance explained), three for H(B) (almost 20% variance explained) and one for W(B) (20·7% variance explained).
To investigate the basis of susceptibility to phenicols and oxazolidinones of the porcine Enteroc... more To investigate the basis of susceptibility to phenicols and oxazolidinones of the porcine Enterococcus faecalis CPPF5 despite the presence of the multiresistance gene cfr. Methods: Southern blotting, conjugation and transformation analyses were conducted to confirm the plasmid location and transferability of cfr in CPPF5. The genetic environment of cfr was determined by sequence analysis. Transcription and translation of cfr were examined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively, and modifications at A2503 within the 23S rRNA sequence were identified by primer extension. Results: Electrotransformation and Southern blotting indicated that CPPF5 and its transformant 5B2-3 contained two cfr-carrying plasmids 50 and 12 kb in size. The complete 12270 bp sequence of the smaller plasmid, pCPPF5, was determined and shared 99.9% (12 269/12 270 bp) identity with the corresponding region of the cfr-carrying plasmid pEF-01 in E. faecalis of cattle origin. Moreover, the genetic environment of cfr in the 50 kb plasmid was the same as that in pCPPF5 according to sequencing results. Although cfr mRNA, Cfr protein and a modification at the A2503 site were detected, the cfr-carrying transformant 5B2-3 did not have elevated MICs of chloramphenicol, florfenicol and linezolid, indicating that cfr fails to mediate resistance to the respective antibiotics in E. faecalis. Conclusions: This is the first report of the cfr gene failing to elevate MICs of the corresponding antibiotics. Although the genetic basis for the apparent 'no resistance' phenotype remains to be determined, this finding may have implications for surveillance studies that target the cfr gene.
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exist pervasively across viruses, plants and animals and play impor... more Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exist pervasively across viruses, plants and animals and play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. In the common carp, miRNA targets have not been investigated. In model species, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to impair or enhance miRNA regulation as well as to alter miRNA biogenesis. SNPs are often associated with diseases or traits. To date, no studies into the effects of SNPs on miRNA biogenesis and regulation in the common carp have been reported. Results Using homology-based prediction combined with small RNA sequencing, we have identified 113 common carp mature miRNAs, including 92 conserved miRNAs and 21 common carp specific miRNAs. The conserved miRNAs had significantly higher expression levels than the specific miRNAs. The miRNAs were clustered into three phylogenetic groups. Totally 394 potential miRNA binding sites in 206 target mRNAs were predicted for 83 miRNAs. We identified 13 SNPs in...
Background Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have drastically increased ... more Background Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have drastically increased throughput and significantly reduced sequencing costs. However, the average read lengths in next-generation sequencing technologies are short as compared with that of traditional Sanger sequencing. The short sequence reads pose great challenges for de novo sequence assembly. As a pilot project for whole genome sequencing of the catfish genome, here we attempt to determine the proper sequence coverage, the proper software for assembly, and various parameters used for the assembly of a BAC physical map contig spanning approximately a million of base pairs. Results A combination of low sequence coverage of 454 and Illumina sequencing appeared to provide effective assembly as reflected by a high N50 value. Using 454 sequencing alone, a sequencing depth of 18 X was sufficient to obtain the good quality assembly, whereas a 70 X Illumina appeared to be sufficient for a good quality assembly. Ad...
Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the marker of choice for genome-wi... more Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the marker of choice for genome-wide association studies. In order to provide the best genome coverage for the analysis of performance and production traits, a large number of relatively evenly distributed SNPs are needed. Gene-associated SNPs may fulfill these requirements of large numbers and genome wide distribution. In addition, gene-associated SNPs could themselves be causative SNPs for traits. The objective of this project was to identify large numbers of gene-associated SNPs using high-throughput next generation sequencing. Results: Transcriptome sequencing was conducted for channel catfish and blue catfish using Illumina next generation sequencing technology. Approximately 220 million reads (15.6 Gb) for channel catfish and 280 million reads (19.6 Gb) for blue catfish were obtained by sequencing gene transcripts derived from various tissues of multiple individuals from a diverse genetic background. A total of over 35 billion base pairs of expressed short read sequences were generated. Over two million putative SNPs were identified from channel catfish and almost 2.5 million putative SNPs were identified from blue catfish. Of these putative SNPs, a set of filtered SNPs were identified including 342,104 intra-specific SNPs for channel catfish, 366,269 intra-specific SNPs for blue catfish, and 420,727 inter-specific SNPs between channel catfish and blue catfish. These filtered SNPs are distributed within 16,562 unique genes in channel catfish and 17,423 unique genes in blue catfish. Conclusions: For aquaculture species, transcriptome analysis of pooled RNA samples from multiple individuals using Illumina sequencing technology is both technically efficient and cost-effective for generating expressed sequences. Such an approach is most effective when coupled to existing EST resources generated using traditional sequencing approaches because the reference ESTs facilitate effective assembly of the expressed short reads. When multiple individuals with different genetic backgrounds are used, RNA-Seq is very effective for the identification of SNPs. The SNPs identified in this report will provide a much needed resource for genetic studies in catfish and will contribute to the development of a high-density SNP array. Validation and testing of these SNPs using SNP arrays will form the material basis for genome association studies and whole genome-based selection in catfish.
Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species w... more Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species widely cultured in the world, but its genome research resources are largely lacking. The objectives of this study were to construct normalized cDNA libraries for efficient EST analysis, to generate ESTs from these libraries, and to identify EST-related molecular markers such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genetic analysis of this species. A total of 6,269 ESTs were generated representing 4,815 unique sequences, from which 105 putative microsatellites and 5,228 SNPs were identified. These genome resources provide the material basis for future genetic and functional analyses in this species.
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2003
A 3×4 (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactiv... more A 3×4 (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast Cr and L-carnitine to corn-soybean meal diets on lipid metabolism of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old avian chickens were randomly allocated to 12 treatments of 40 each for 7 weeks. Levels of adding Cr were 0, 400, 600 µg/kg and those of Lcarnitine was 0, 30, 50, 100 mg/kg, respectively. The result showed that adding 600 µg/kg Cr or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine alone had better regulative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism than lower adding levels. Effects were more significant at the end of the experiment. There were significantly interactive effects between Cr and L-carnitine on triaclyglycerol, whole cholesterol, HDL, dissociating FFA, and blood glucose, cholesterol and triaclyglycerol of liver, and cholesterol of chest muscle at the end of experiment (p=0.0001-0.0315). But Cr or L-carnitine had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens (p>0.05).
To apply genome-based technologies for genetic improvements using marker-assisted selection, geno... more To apply genome-based technologies for genetic improvements using marker-assisted selection, genome research involving genetic linkage mapping and physical mapping is required, and integration of genetic and linkage maps would significantly enhance the capacities for genome research. In catfish, the major aquaculture species in the United States, linkage and physical maps have been constructed. However, integration of genetic linkage and physical maps demands large-scale, genome-wide hybridizations, or genetic mapping of polymorphic markers derived from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones whose locations are known from the physical map. In this work, we identified a large number of microsatellites from BAC end sequences of channel catfish, characterized the microsatellites, tested their utility for linkage mapping in a resource family used for genetic mapping, and constructed a web-searchable database for BAC end sequences, their linked microsatellites, microsatellite primers, PCR conditions, and polymorphic information. A total of 3652 microsatellites in 2744 distinct BACs were identified. Of these, 1100 had sufficient and complex flanking sequences for PCR primer design. We have tested 500 primer pairs and found 211 (42.2%) were polymorphic and segregating in the resource family used for genetic mapping. These microsatellites represent a major fraction of co-dominant polymorphic markers identified to date in catfish, and should be a valuable resource for genetic mapping to increase linkage map resolution, and for integration of genetic linkage and physical maps.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 10495398 2010 505843, Oct 1, 2010
Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species w... more Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species widely cultured in the world, but its genome research resources are largely lacking. The objectives of this study were to construct normalized cDNA libraries for efficient EST analysis, to generate ESTs from these libraries, and to identify EST-related molecular markers such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genetic analysis of this species. A total of 6,269 ESTs were generated representing 4,815 unique sequences, from which 105 putative microsatellites and 5,228 SNPs were identified. These genome resources provide the material basis for future genetic and functional analyses in this species.
Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health p... more Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health professionals. One key concern is whether migrant health professionals provide equivalent health care. We compare the treatment provided by migrant and non-migrant health professionals using administrative data from the Scottish dental system. A difference-indifferences model is estimated to examine whether migrant dentists respond differently to case mix and individual circumstances as compared with their non-migrant counterparts, and assess the extent to which any differences diminish over time. After controlling for both observed and unobserved differences between individual dentists and the cohort of patients that they treat, we find that migrant dentists have marginally different practice styles, and the variation diminishes over time within two years of practice.
ABSTRACT For the first time, this article demonstrated that V2O5 nanowires served as a robust and... more ABSTRACT For the first time, this article demonstrated that V2O5 nanowires served as a robust and efficient peroxidase mimic catalyst in luminol-based chemiluminescence reaction in aqueous media at high temperature. Over 90% of the maximum catalytic activity remained at 70 °C. Singlet oxygen was involved in the CL reaction catalysed by V2O5 nanowires, which was quite different from the traditional catalysts.
In the conventional proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), reagent ions of H 3 O + ... more In the conventional proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), reagent ions of H 3 O + were prepared with a discharge source of water vapor. For the identification of VOCs that can not be detected in conventional PTR-MS, other ions, e.g., NO + and O 2 + , were exploited. However, these ions must be prepared with other reagent gases. In this work, hydroxyl anions OH À were prepared with only water vapor in the discharge source of conventional PTR-MS to develop a novel proton-extraction-reaction mass spectrometry (PER-MS). By using reverse electric fields for ion extraction and ion drift, the reagent ions OH À in the discharge source were introduced into the drift tube in PERMS , and interacted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via proton extraction reaction. The relative abundances of cluster ions (H 2 O) n OH À (n = 0-4) at different reduced fields in the drift tube show the similar characteristic of cluster ions to that in conventional PTR-MS. Some common VOCs were introduced into PERMS , and the deprotonated VOCs were detected. Moreover, carbon dioxide was also detected in PERMS via the association reaction. The results show the ability of PERMS to detect both organic and inorganic compounds. The newly developed PERMS combined with conventional PTR-MS can supply more powerful analytical ability in many application fields. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Self-assembled Ga1−xMnxAs magnetic semiconductor quantum dots have been grown on Si (001) substra... more Self-assembled Ga1−xMnxAs magnetic semiconductor quantum dots have been grown on Si (001) substrates using droplet epitaxy by molecular-beam epitaxy. Structural characterization reveals that these dots possess a zinc-blende lattice. The Ga1−xMnxAs quantum dots with 8% Mn content are ferromagnetically soft and slightly anisotropic at low temperature, and show the superparamagnetic behavior with a blocking temperature of 20 K in the in-plane direction. Moreover, the results of x-ray absorption near edge structure provide direct evidences for the substitutional Mn2+ ion with a half-filled d5 configuration for the Ga site, suggesting the hole-mediated ferromagnetism in zero-dimensional Ga1−xMnxAs quantum dots.
The Yazigou polymetallic deposit,discovered recently by the Qinghai Geological Survey in the Qima... more The Yazigou polymetallic deposit,discovered recently by the Qinghai Geological Survey in the Qimantage area of East Kunlun Mountain,Qinghai Province,is characterized by porphyry-type mineralization.The authors have conducted geochronological study on the samples from the ore-bearing porphyry and orebodies by SHRIMP zircon U-Pb and molybdenite Re-Os dating,respectively.The zircon U-Pb age for the K-feldspar granitic porphyry is 224±1.6 Ma while the Re-Os age of ore molybdenite is 224.7±3.4 Ma,suggesting that diagenesis and mineralization took place coevally with the intense crust-mantle interaction in the East Kunlun orogenic belt in Late Indosinian.Meanwhile,the interaction between crust and mantle resulted in large-scale magmatic-hydrothermal activities and metallogeny.The K-feldspar granitic porphyry is closely related to polymetallic mineralization and the mantle-derived diorite,diabase and gabbro in the area both temporally and spatially.It is refered that that the magmatic intrusives mentioned above are all the products of the crust-mantle interaction.Based on the geochronological study,it is proposed that the Yazigou deposit has the same geodynamical setting as the whole Eastern Kunlun orogenic belt in Late Indosinian.Meanwhile,the authors also point out that there are good potentials for porphyry deposit prospecting in the area.
Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health p... more Many OECD countries are increasingly relying on migrants to address shortages of trained health professionals. One key concern is whether migrant health professionals provide equivalent health care. We compare the treatment provided by migrant and non-migrant ...
To reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Pill () in treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis fro... more To reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Pill () in treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis from the angle of the Wnt signal transduction pathway and to provide further experimental evidence for expounding the scientific connotation of "the kidney dominating the bones" in TCM. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups, control group (n=12), model group (n=15) and Zuogui Pill group (n=15). Form the beginning, The rats were injected dexamethasone for eight weeks to make the model of osteoporosis, and the Zuogui Pill were administered intragastrically to the rats of Zuogui Pill group for eight weeks. The relative morphological parameters were measured in the undecalcified tibial slices. And the protein expression levels of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in rat tibial osteoblasts (OB) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMC) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with the control group, TBV% and TFS% decreased significantly, while TRS% increased significantly, and the protein expression of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in OB and BMC decreased significantly in the model group. And compared with the model group, TBV% and TFS% increased significantly, and expression levels of Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin proteins increased significantly in the Zuogui pill group. Conclusion: Zuogui Pill can prevent and treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats by up-regulating the expression of the key signal molecules Wnt1, LRP-5 and ß-catenin in Wnt signal transduction pathway.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2012
Using a unique administrative data set, we utilize multivariate fixed effects regression models t... more Using a unique administrative data set, we utilize multivariate fixed effects regression models that control for patient characteristics and unobserved heterogeneity across dentists to explore the extent of treatment delivered. Results: Non-UK trained dentists initially provide more treatment than UK-trained dentists, but over approximately two years of practice their treatment converge. Conclusions: As with many OECD countries, the UK relies on foreign-trained health professionals to address workforce shortages and one concern is whether they provide equivalent health care to their domestically trained counterparts. Whilst there is a difference in the amount of treatment provided by UK and non-UK trained dentists, the effect is modest and transitory.
To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect body shape in common carp Cyprinus carpio, ... more To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect body shape in common carp Cyprinus carpio, a linkage map, 2159·23 cM long, was constructed with a total of 307 markers covering 51 linkage groups (LG). The map included 167 new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from expressed sequence tags (EST) together with 140 microsatellite markers reported earlier. A primary genome scan was conducted for QTL for standard length (L(S)), head length (L(H)), body height (H(B)), body width (W(B)) and tail length (L(TAIL)) in an F1 line containing 92 offspring. A total of 15 suggestive QTL on six LGs were found to associate with L(S), L(H), H(B), W(B) and L(TAIL) which explained 10·7-17·4% of the variance. Five significant QTL were detected for body-shape related traits and located for LGs (lg1, 12 and 20). These QTL included: one associated with L(S) (21·1% variance explained), three for H(B) (almost 20% variance explained) and one for W(B) (20·7% variance explained).
To investigate the basis of susceptibility to phenicols and oxazolidinones of the porcine Enteroc... more To investigate the basis of susceptibility to phenicols and oxazolidinones of the porcine Enterococcus faecalis CPPF5 despite the presence of the multiresistance gene cfr. Methods: Southern blotting, conjugation and transformation analyses were conducted to confirm the plasmid location and transferability of cfr in CPPF5. The genetic environment of cfr was determined by sequence analysis. Transcription and translation of cfr were examined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively, and modifications at A2503 within the 23S rRNA sequence were identified by primer extension. Results: Electrotransformation and Southern blotting indicated that CPPF5 and its transformant 5B2-3 contained two cfr-carrying plasmids 50 and 12 kb in size. The complete 12270 bp sequence of the smaller plasmid, pCPPF5, was determined and shared 99.9% (12 269/12 270 bp) identity with the corresponding region of the cfr-carrying plasmid pEF-01 in E. faecalis of cattle origin. Moreover, the genetic environment of cfr in the 50 kb plasmid was the same as that in pCPPF5 according to sequencing results. Although cfr mRNA, Cfr protein and a modification at the A2503 site were detected, the cfr-carrying transformant 5B2-3 did not have elevated MICs of chloramphenicol, florfenicol and linezolid, indicating that cfr fails to mediate resistance to the respective antibiotics in E. faecalis. Conclusions: This is the first report of the cfr gene failing to elevate MICs of the corresponding antibiotics. Although the genetic basis for the apparent 'no resistance' phenotype remains to be determined, this finding may have implications for surveillance studies that target the cfr gene.
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exist pervasively across viruses, plants and animals and play impor... more Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exist pervasively across viruses, plants and animals and play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. In the common carp, miRNA targets have not been investigated. In model species, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to impair or enhance miRNA regulation as well as to alter miRNA biogenesis. SNPs are often associated with diseases or traits. To date, no studies into the effects of SNPs on miRNA biogenesis and regulation in the common carp have been reported. Results Using homology-based prediction combined with small RNA sequencing, we have identified 113 common carp mature miRNAs, including 92 conserved miRNAs and 21 common carp specific miRNAs. The conserved miRNAs had significantly higher expression levels than the specific miRNAs. The miRNAs were clustered into three phylogenetic groups. Totally 394 potential miRNA binding sites in 206 target mRNAs were predicted for 83 miRNAs. We identified 13 SNPs in...
Background Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have drastically increased ... more Background Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have drastically increased throughput and significantly reduced sequencing costs. However, the average read lengths in next-generation sequencing technologies are short as compared with that of traditional Sanger sequencing. The short sequence reads pose great challenges for de novo sequence assembly. As a pilot project for whole genome sequencing of the catfish genome, here we attempt to determine the proper sequence coverage, the proper software for assembly, and various parameters used for the assembly of a BAC physical map contig spanning approximately a million of base pairs. Results A combination of low sequence coverage of 454 and Illumina sequencing appeared to provide effective assembly as reflected by a high N50 value. Using 454 sequencing alone, a sequencing depth of 18 X was sufficient to obtain the good quality assembly, whereas a 70 X Illumina appeared to be sufficient for a good quality assembly. Ad...
Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the marker of choice for genome-wi... more Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the marker of choice for genome-wide association studies. In order to provide the best genome coverage for the analysis of performance and production traits, a large number of relatively evenly distributed SNPs are needed. Gene-associated SNPs may fulfill these requirements of large numbers and genome wide distribution. In addition, gene-associated SNPs could themselves be causative SNPs for traits. The objective of this project was to identify large numbers of gene-associated SNPs using high-throughput next generation sequencing. Results: Transcriptome sequencing was conducted for channel catfish and blue catfish using Illumina next generation sequencing technology. Approximately 220 million reads (15.6 Gb) for channel catfish and 280 million reads (19.6 Gb) for blue catfish were obtained by sequencing gene transcripts derived from various tissues of multiple individuals from a diverse genetic background. A total of over 35 billion base pairs of expressed short read sequences were generated. Over two million putative SNPs were identified from channel catfish and almost 2.5 million putative SNPs were identified from blue catfish. Of these putative SNPs, a set of filtered SNPs were identified including 342,104 intra-specific SNPs for channel catfish, 366,269 intra-specific SNPs for blue catfish, and 420,727 inter-specific SNPs between channel catfish and blue catfish. These filtered SNPs are distributed within 16,562 unique genes in channel catfish and 17,423 unique genes in blue catfish. Conclusions: For aquaculture species, transcriptome analysis of pooled RNA samples from multiple individuals using Illumina sequencing technology is both technically efficient and cost-effective for generating expressed sequences. Such an approach is most effective when coupled to existing EST resources generated using traditional sequencing approaches because the reference ESTs facilitate effective assembly of the expressed short reads. When multiple individuals with different genetic backgrounds are used, RNA-Seq is very effective for the identification of SNPs. The SNPs identified in this report will provide a much needed resource for genetic studies in catfish and will contribute to the development of a high-density SNP array. Validation and testing of these SNPs using SNP arrays will form the material basis for genome association studies and whole genome-based selection in catfish.
Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species w... more Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844), is an economically important species widely cultured in the world, but its genome research resources are largely lacking. The objectives of this study were to construct normalized cDNA libraries for efficient EST analysis, to generate ESTs from these libraries, and to identify EST-related molecular markers such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genetic analysis of this species. A total of 6,269 ESTs were generated representing 4,815 unique sequences, from which 105 putative microsatellites and 5,228 SNPs were identified. These genome resources provide the material basis for future genetic and functional analyses in this species.
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2003
A 3×4 (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactiv... more A 3×4 (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast Cr and L-carnitine to corn-soybean meal diets on lipid metabolism of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old avian chickens were randomly allocated to 12 treatments of 40 each for 7 weeks. Levels of adding Cr were 0, 400, 600 µg/kg and those of Lcarnitine was 0, 30, 50, 100 mg/kg, respectively. The result showed that adding 600 µg/kg Cr or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine alone had better regulative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism than lower adding levels. Effects were more significant at the end of the experiment. There were significantly interactive effects between Cr and L-carnitine on triaclyglycerol, whole cholesterol, HDL, dissociating FFA, and blood glucose, cholesterol and triaclyglycerol of liver, and cholesterol of chest muscle at the end of experiment (p=0.0001-0.0315). But Cr or L-carnitine had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens (p>0.05).
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Papers by Shaolin Wang