The nanostructure and photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 thin films deposited by PECVD on silicon substrates were investigated. The films were grown at low temperature (< 120 °C) in an rf inductively coupled oxygen/titanium tetraisopropoxide plasma, in continuous and pulsed modes with different plasma-on time (via variation of the duty cycle, DC). All the films exhibit nano-columnar structures, but the reduction of plasma-on time by decreasing the duty cycle for pulsed mode leads to a more homogenous morphology with a diminished column size, and a decrease in the surface roughness. TiO 2 layers containing a high amount of anatase were grown at substrate temperatures less than 100 °C corresponding to DC ≥ 40%, then the crystallization was hindered with the decrease of DC, even inducing amorphous films for DC ≤ 10%. Moreover, the films deposited below 100 °C with deposition conditions where 50% ≤ DC ≤ 75% were shown to present a high photocatalytic activity, likely due to the presence of anatase crystalline nanocolumns at the surface.

Regulation of crucial lncRNAs involved in differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) was explored by sequencing the transcriptome of ESCs, primordial germ cells (PGCs) and SSCs with RNA-Seq; analytical bioinformatic methods were used to excavate candidate lncRNAs. We detected expression of candidate lncRNAs in ESCs, PGCs and SSCs and forecasted related target genes. Utilizing wego, david and string, function and protein-protein interactions of target genes were analyzed. Finally, based on string analysis, interaction diagrams and relevant signaling pathways were established. Our results indicate a total of 9657 lncRNAs in ESCs, PGCs and SSCs, with 3549 defined as significantly different. We screened 20 candidate lncRNAs, each demonstrating a greater than eight-fold difference in |logFC| value between groups (ESCs vs. PGCs, ESCs vs. SSCs and PGCs vs. SSCs) or specifically expressed in an individual cell type. qRT-PCR results indicated that expression tendencies of candidate lncRNAs were consistent with RNA-Seq. Fifteen cis and four trans target genes were forecasted. Based on wego and string analyses, we found lnc-SSC1, lnc-SSC5, lnc-SSC2 and lnc-ESC2 negatively regulated target genes SUFU, EPHA3, KLF3, ARL3 and TRIM8, whereas SHH, NOTCH, TGF-β, cAMP/cGMP and JAK/STAT signaling pathways were promoted, causing differentiation of ESCs into SSCs. Our findings represent a preliminary unveiling of lncRNA-associated regulatory mechanisms during differentiation of chicken ESCs into SSCs, filling a research void in male germ cell differentiation related to lncRNA. Our results also provide basic information for improving in vitro induction systems for differentiation of chicken ESCs into SSCs.

ABSTRACT. RT-PCR was used to study the temporal and spatial pattern of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression in four different skeletal muscles (i.e., longissimus dorsi muscle, soleus muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, and extensor digitorum longus) and three growth stages (i.e., 2 days old, 2 and 6 months old) of Hu Sheep. The results showed that YAP1 was differentially expressed in skeletal muscles of sheep, that expression increased gradually with age, and that there were high levels of expression in the gastrocnemius muscle and lower levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle. MyHCI was expressed at high levels in the soleus muscle and at lower levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle. In contrast, MyHCIIA and MyHCIIX were expressed at high levels in the extensor digitorum longus and at lower levels in the soleus muscle. The expression of MyHCI and MyHCIIA decreased with increasing age while that of MyHCIIX increased. YAP1 expression was negatively correlated with MyHCII (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with MyHCIIX (P < 0.01) across all growth stages and skeletal muscle types studied. We speculate that after birth, the thicker muscle fiber diameter is associated with the high expression of MyHCIIX. Therefore, we conclude that YAP1 expression affects sheep muscle fiber development after birth and provides important genetic information for the selection candidate genes for sheep muscle growth.

ABSTRACT. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) gene expression after birth on the development of muscle and the relationship between YAP1 and myostatin (MSTN) and myogenin (MyoG). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the trends in YAP1, MSTN, and MyoG temporal and spatial expression levels in various skeletal muscles (i.e., longissimus dorsi muscle, soleus muscle, gastrocnemius muscle, and extensor digitorum longus) and across 3 different growth stages (i.e., 2 days old, 2 and 6 months old) of Hu Sheep. The results showed that YAP1 expression was significantly different in the skeletal muscles of sheep; the expression level gradually increased with age; it was highly expressed in the gastrocnemius muscle and minimally expressed in the longissimus dorsi muscle. MSTN, a negative regulator Correlation between YAP1 and MSTN and MyoG gene in sheep of skeletal muscle development, was minimally expressed in the soleus muscle and might be related to the enlargement of muscle fiber diameter. MyoG, an important factor in regulating skeletal muscle development, was minimally expressed in the longissimus dorsi muscle and extensor digitorum longus, and highly expressed in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles; it might inhibit the enlargement of muscle fiber diameter after birth. YAP1 expression was significantly (P < 0.05) or extremely significantly (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with MSTN and MyoG at 2 days old, 2 and 6 months old. YAP1 expression was related to muscle fiber development after birth and might be a candidate gene for the regulation of muscle growth.

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TiO2 films were deposited from oxygen/titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) plasmas at low temperature by Helicon-PECVD at floating potential ([Formula: see text] or substrate self-bias of [Formula: see text]50[Formula: see text]V. The influence of titanium precursor partial pressure on the morphology, nanostructure and optical properties was investigated. Low titanium partial pressure ([TTIP] [Formula: see text] 0.013[Formula: see text]Pa) was applied by controlling the TTIP flow rate which is introduced by its own vapor pressure, whereas higher titanium partial pressure was formed through increasing the flow rate by using a carrier gas (CG). Then the precursor partial pressures [TTIP[Formula: see text]CG] [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Pa and 0.093[Formula: see text]Pa were obtained. At [Formula: see text], all the films exhibit a columnar structure, but the degree of inhomogeneity is decreased with the precursor partial pressure. Phase transformation from anatase ([TTIP] [Formula: see text] 0.013[Formula: see text]Pa) to amorphous ([TTIP[Formula: see text]CG] [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Pa) has been evidenced since the O[Formula: see text] ion to neutral flux ratio in the plasma was decreased and more carbon contained in the film. However, in the case of [Formula: see text]50[Formula: see text]V, the related growth rate for different precursor partial pressures is slightly ([Formula: see text] 15%) decreased. The columnar morphology at [TTIP] [Formula: see text] 0.013[Formula: see text]Pa has been changed into a granular structure, but still homogeneous columns are observed for [TTIP[Formula: see text]CG] [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Pa and 0.093[Formula: see text]Pa. Rutile phase has been generated at [TTIP] [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Pa. Ellipsometry measurements were performed on the films deposited at [Formula: see text]50[Formula: see text]V; results show that the precursor addition from low to high levels leads to a decrease in refractive index.