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The purpose of this study was to study the genetic mechanism of low hydrocyanic acid (HCN) content. The segregation of HCN content trait in fresh stems and leaves was determined in the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)--sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) hybrid [F.sub.2] population (N = 1200), also used to detect a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for HCN content. Our hypothesis was that the additive effect of QTL was negative, showing that QTL was associated with low HCN. In the present research, a total of 11 simple sequence repeats (SSR) polymorphic primers were screened, and four SSR markers associated with low HCN content were developed based on the bulked segregant analysis method. A high-resolution genetic linkage group of the previously known qPA7-1 locus of the low HCN trait was constructed by analyzing different populations, families, and recombinants. Then, the QTL qPA7-1 of sorghum--sudangrass hybrid was fine-mapped to a 203.6 kb region between markers SORBI4G4-120 and SORBI4G4-680, and seven candidate genes for low HCN were predicted in this region based on sequence comparison with the sorghum reference genome. According to gene annotation, the candidate genes related to low HCN content may be different from those involved in the known regulation mode of sorghum dhurrin biosynthesis and metabolism. Key words: sorghum--sudangrass hybrid, low hydrocyanic acid, QTL qPA7-1, fine mapping, candidate genes Le but de cette etude etait d'examiner le determinisme genetique de la faible teneur en cyanure d'hydrogene (HCN). La segregation pour la teneur en HCN chez les tiges et feuilles fraiches a ete determinee au sein d'une population [F.sub.2] ( N = 1200) issue d'un croisement interspecifique sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)--sorgho du Soudan ( Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) ; ces memes donnees ont aussi ete employees pour detecter un QTL pour ce caractere. L'hypothese des auteurs etait que l'efet additif du QTL etait negatif, montrant que le QTL etait associe a une faible teneur en HCN. Dans le present travail, 11 marqueurs microsatellites (SSR) ont ete examines et quatre marqueurs SSR se sont reveles associes a la faible teneur en HCN par le biais d'une analyse BSA (<< bulked segregant analysis >>). Une carte genetique a haute resolution de la region qPA1-7 , deja connue comme etant associee a une faible teneur en HCN, a ete produite en analysant diferentes populations, familles et recombinants. Ensuite, le QTL qPA1-7 au sein de cet hybride sorgho--sorgho du Soudan a ete cartographie finement et logeait au sein d'un intervalle de 203,6 kb entre les marqueurs SORBI4G4-120 et SORBI4G4-680. Au sein de cette region, sept genes candidats pour la faible teneur en HCN ont ete predits sur la base de la comparaison de sequences avec le genome de reference du sorgho. Selon l'annotation de ces genes, il semblerait que les genes candidats impliques dans cette faible teneur en HCN seraient diferents de ceux impliques dans le mode connu de regulation de la synthese et du metabolisme de la dhurrine chez le sorgho. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : hybride sorgho--sorgho du Soudan, faible teneur en cyanure d'hydrogene, QTL qPA7-1, cartographie fine, genes candidats, Introduction Sorghum--sudangrass hybrid is an annual grass of the genus Sorghum in the Poaceae family, which is derived from the cross between sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, 2n = 2x [...]

Ensuring road safety is heavily reliant on the effective maintenance of vehicles. Accurate predictions of maintenance requirements can substantially reduce ownership costs for vehicle owners. Consequently, this field has attracted increasing attention from researchers in recent years. However, existing studies primarily focus on predicting a limited number of maintenance needs, predominantly based solely on vehicle mileage and driving time. This approach often falls short, as it does not comprehensively monitor the overall health condition of vehicles, thus posing potential safety risks. To address this issue, we propose a deep fusion network model that utilizes multi-source data, including vehicle maintenance record data and vehicle base information data, to provide comprehensive predictions for vehicle maintenance projects. To capture the relationships among various maintenance projects, we create a correlation representation using the maintenance project co-occurrence matrix. Furthermore, building on the correlation representation, we propose a deep fusion network that employs the attention mechanism to efficiently merge vehicle mileage and vehicle base information. Experiments conducted on real data demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed model relative to competitive baseline models in predicting vehicle maintenance projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the stress distribution within the cell wall layers and the microstructural response under high-intensity microwave (HIMW) treatment were investigated. Finite-element models were developed for both single tracheid and multicellular structures, considering the influence of the saturated vapour pressure. The findings showed uniform vapour pressure caused expansion and deformation of the tracheid layers, with the radial wall deforming slightly more than the tangential wall due to differences in microfibril angle (MFA) and elastic properties. Despite its thinness, the S3 layer, with a wide MFA, played a pivotal role in supporting the saturated vapour pressure within the cell lumen under HIMW treatment, effectively constraining lateral cell-wall deformation. In contrast, the S2 layer, being the thickest, exhibited lower lateral elasticity and sustained damage at the interfaces with the S3 and S1 layers during the expansion and recovery stages. The multicellular simulation demonstrated that earlywood cells experienced larger deformations than latewood cells and revealed a negative correlation between the cell-wall thickness and deformation. The simulation results were validated through the microscopic analysis of the wood topography after HIMW treatment. The findings of this study provide significant insights into understanding the microstructural deformation of wood under HIMW treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary fiber (DF) is an important nutrient component in pig's diet that remarkably influences their growth and slaughter performance. The ability of pigs to digest DF depends on the microbial composition of the intestinal tract, particularly in the hindgut. However, studies on how DF alters the growth and slaughter performance of pigs by shaping the gut microbial composition and metabolites are still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of DF on microbial composition, functions, and metabolites, ultimately altering host growth and slaughter performance using Durco × Bamei crossbred pigs supplemented with 0%, 10%, 17%, and 24% broad bean silage in the basic diet. We found that the final weight, average daily gain, fat, and lean meat weight significantly decreased with increasing DF. Pigs with the lowest slaughter rate and fat weight were observed in the 24% fiber-supplemented group. Gut microbial communities with the highest alpha diversity were formed in the 17% fiber group. The relative abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria, bile acid, and succinate-producing bacteria, including Prevotella sp., Bacteroides sp., Ruminococcus sp., and Parabacteroides sp., and functional pathways, including the butanoate metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle, significantly increased in the high-fiber groups. The concentrations of several bile acids significantly decreased in the fiber-supplemented groups, whereas the concentrations of succinate and long-chain fatty acids increased. Our results indicate that a high-fiber diet may alter the growth and slaughter performance of Durco × Bamei crossbred pigs by modulating the composition of Prevotella sp., Bacteroides sp., Ruminococcus sp., Parabacteroides sp., and metabolite pathways of bile acids and succinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratins are the main structural protein components of wool fibres, and variation in them and their genes (KRTs) is thought to influence wool structure and characteristics. The PCR–single strand conformation polymorphism technique has been used previously to investigate genetic variation in selected coding and intron regions of the type II sheep keratin gene KRT81, but no variation was identified. In this study, we used the same technique to explore the 5′ untranslated region of KRT81 and detected three sequence variants (A, B and C) that contain four single nucleotide polymorphisms. Among the 389 Merino × Southdown cross sheep investigated, variant B was linked to a reduction in clean fleece weight, while C was associated with an increase in both greasy fleece weight and clean fleece weight. No discernible effects on staple length or mean-fibre-diameter-related traits were observed. These findings suggest that variation in ovine KRT81 might influence wool growth by changing the density of wool follicles in the skin, the density of individual fibres, or the area of the skin producing fibre, as opposed to changing the rate of extrusion of fibres or their diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) is a selenium-dependent enzyme and protects cells against oxidative damage. Recently, GPX2 has been identified as a candidate gene for backfat and feed efficiency in pigs. However, it is unclear whether GPX2 regulates the development of porcine preadipocytes and skeletal muscle cells. In this study, adenoviral gene transfer was used to overexpress GPX2. Our findings suggest that overexpression of GPX2 gene inhibited proliferation of porcine preadipocytes. And the process is accompanied by the reduction of the p-p38. GPX2 inhibited adipogenic differentiation and promoted lipid degradation, while ERK1/2 was reduced and p-p38 was increased. Proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle cells was induced after GPX2 overexpression, was accompanied by activation in JNK, ERK1/2, and p-p38. Overexpression methods confirmed that GPX2 has a promoting function in myoblastic differentiation. ERK1/2 pathway was activated and p38 was suppressed during the process. This study lays a foundation for the functional study of GPX2 and provides theoretical support for promoting subcutaneous fat reduction and muscle growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automobile fault diagnosis is the most technical content in automobile maintenance. The speed, accuracy and convenience of diagnosis directly affect the maintenance efficiency. Automobile fault diagnosis information is an important reference for finding and solving automobile faults. High quality information is the key to improve technical personnel's judgment and solving faults. In this paper, the methods and examples of fault diagnosis information compilation are given to guide the technical data writers to compile effective fault diagnosis information for automobiles.

Simple Summary: Fermented feed as an alternative to antibiotics in livestock is gaining interest. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of the addition of three fermented feeds to the basal diet of Bamei piglets from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. The results suggest that fermented feed has the function of improving the growth condition, immunity and intestinal flora structure of Bamei piglets. This study provides a new approach for using fermented feed as an in-feed antibiotic substitute in the raising of Bamei piglets in high-altitude environments. Purebred Bamei piglets present problems, including slow growth, respiratory disease, and post-weaning stress. This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum QP28-1- and Bacillus subtilis QB8-fermented feed supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, and intestinal microflora of Bamei piglets from Qinghai, China. A total of 48 purebred Bamei piglets (25 days; 6.8 ± 0.97 kg) were divided into the following four groups for a 28-day diet experiment: basal feed (CK); diet containing 10% Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented feed (L); diet containing 10% Bacillus subtilis-fermented feed (B); and diet containing a mixture of 5% Lactobacillus plantarum + 5% Bacillus subtilis-fermented feed (H). The daily weight gain and daily food intake of group H increased (p < 0.05), and the feed/weight gain ratios of the groups fed with fermented feed decreased more than that of the CK group. The levels of three immune factors, namely immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, and interferon-γ, were higher (p < 0.05), whereas those of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were lower (p < 0.05) in the fermented feed groups than in the CK group. Total protein was higher (p < 0.05), while urea nitrogen, total cholesterol and triglycerides were lower (p < 0.05) in the mixed-fermented feed group than in the CK group. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that the addition of fermented feed increased the α-diversity of the gut microbiota, increasing the abundances of probiotics including Lactobacillus, Muribaculaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Rikenellaceae. Additionally, correlation analysis demonstrated that several of these probiotic bacteria were closely related to serum immunity. In conclusion, fermented feed supplementation rebuilt the intestinal microbiota of Bamei piglets, thereby reducing the feed/weight ratio, improving feed intake, and enhancing immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reproductive performance of pigs can vary due to the influence of genetic factors, and this is aggravated by environmental factors. Multiple complex factors affect the difference in the reproductive performance of boars in adulthood. This study examined those genetic differences in young piglets, at a time when they are less affected by the environment. Testicular tissue samples were used to explore candidate genes and related pathways affecting testicular size during early development. This experiment into the reproductive performance of pig breeds using the RNA-Seq analysis of testicular tissue with early developmental differences can provide a theoretical basis for breeding by determining key candidate genes that control testicular predevelopment. The data will be used for subsequent research into the genetic mechanism of boars, which is important for early breeding and improvement. The RNA-Seq technology was used to screen the key genes that affect the early development of the testes of Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets, to determine the regulatory pathway and provide reference for subsequent reproductive performance research, breeding, and other production practices. This study selected 14-day-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets as the trial animals. Testes from piglets with similar weights and no pathological changes were divided into small testis (ST) and large testis (LT) groups, and the RNA-Seq screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed to find candidate genes and regulatory pathways related to early testicular development. The results show that 570 DEGs were found in the ST and LT groups, with 281 upregulated and 289 downregulated. The DEGs were mainly enriched on 47 gene ontology (GO) functional items. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genotypes (KEGG) enrichment analysis found that there were 44 significantly enriched KEGG signal pathways, and the regulation of testicular development mainly focused on the arachidonic acid metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway and GnRH secretion pathways. The PTGES, SFRP1, SPP1, PLA2G4E, KCNJ5, PTGS2, and HCN1 genes were found to be as closely related to the testicular development of these Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets, and the differential gene expression was consistent with the real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (real-time qRT-PCR) validation results. This study was validated by high-throughput sequencing analysis and real-time qRT-PCR, and showed that the PTGES, SFRP1, SPP1, PLA2G4E, KCNJ5, PTGS2, and HCN1 genes may be involved in the regulation of germ cell development, spermatogenesis and semen traits. These should be further studied as candidate genes for early testicular development and reproductive trait regulation in boars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamei pigs, an eximious local breed reared on the Tibetan Plateau of China, are facing problems such as feed shortages, weaning stress, and antibiotic abuse. This study aimed to improve the quality of feed, growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and immunity of Bamei pigs through feeding with potentially probiotic-fermented feed. Different feeds were administered to weaned Bamei piglets for 60 days, creating the following five experimental treatment groups: basal feed group; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum-fermented-feed group; Bacillus subtilis-fermented-feed group; mixed-fermented-feed group; and antibiotic-supplemented-feed group. The results showed that the pH, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber of the potentially probiotic-fermented feeds were significantly reduced; organic acids were produced; and Coliform bacteria, Clostridium, and aerobic bacteria were effectively inhibited. Feeding with potentially probiotic-fermented feed not only reduced the feed-conversion ratio but also improved immunity by increasing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and typical inflammatory pathways. The 16s rDNA high-throughput-sequencing results showed that probiotic-fermented feed improved the diversity of intestinal microbiota, inhibited the growth of the opportunistic pathogens Clostridium and Streptococcus, increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Prevotella, and promoted gut health, demonstrating the promising application prospects of potentially probiotic-fermented feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backfat trait is an important economic trait and highly heritable, but difficult to evaluate. Thus, it is of great significance to explore optimal backfat thickness of pigs by using marker-assisted selection (MAS) to speed up its breeding process and improve economic efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genetic variations (e.g., SSRs) and backfat of Qinghai Bamei pigs using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Herein, five alternative SSR loci (namely V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5) were selected for subsequent detection. The results suggested that 3 (141-, 143- and 145-), 3 (128-, 130- and 132-), 2 (160- and 162-), 2 (136- and 139-) and 3 (170-, 184- and 192-) alleles of V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5 were found, respectively. Subsequent analysis showed that there was linkage equilibrium among five SSRs and Hap19 (13.1%) (141-/132-/160-/139-/192-) had the highest haplotype frequency. Among these five SSR loci, V1, V2 and V3 loci were significantly associated to the backfat of Qinghai Bamei sows. These findings enriched the study of SSRs in Qinghai Bamei pigs, and (AC)n (Chr15:85485851-85485995), (AC)n (Chr10:52724583–52724713) and (TG)n (Chr4:90732644–90732802) could be utilized as the candidate locus for MAS in pig industry. Five novel SSR loci was identified in pigs through MALDI-TOF MS. V1, V2 and V3 loci was were significantly associated to the backfat of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, are a major obstacle to the utilization of animal feed for various reasons. Wheat straw (WS) is hollow, and miscellaneous bacteria can easy attach to its surface; the secondary fermentation frequency after silage is high, and there is a risk of mycotoxin poisoning. In this study, a storage fermentation process was used to preserve and enhance fermentation quality in WS through the addition of Artemisia argyi (AA), which is an effective method to use WS resources and enhance aerobic stability. The storage fermentation of WS treated with AA had lower pH and mycotoxin (AFB1 and DON) values than the control due to rapid changes in microbial counts, especially in the 60% AA groups. Meanwhile, the addition of 60% AA improved anaerobic fermentation profiles, showing higher lactic acid contents, leading to increased efficiency of lactic acid fermentation. A background microbial dynamic study indicated that the addition of 60% AA improved the fermentation and aerobic exposure processes, decreased microbial richness, enriched Lactobacillus abundance, and reduced Enterobacter and Aspergillus abundances. In conclusion, 60% AA treatment could improve the quality by increase fermentation quality and improve the aerobic stability of WS silage by enhancing the dominance of desirable Lactobacillus, inhibiting the growth of undesirable microorganisms, especially fungi, and reducing the content of mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of fermented feeds and foods with fungi and mycotoxins is a major food safety issue worldwide. Certain lactic acid bacteria (LAB), generally recognized as safe (GRAS) fermentation probiotics, are able to reduce microbial and mycotoxins contamination. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum Q1-2 and L. salivarius Q27-2 with antifungal properties were screened as inoculants for mixed fermenting feed, and the fermentation and nutritional qualities, microbial community, and mycotoxins of mixed fermented feed were analyzed at different fermentation periods (1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively). The findings indicated that the utilization of Q1-2 and Q27-2 strains in fermenting feed led to a decrease in pH and an increase in lactic acid concentration and the proportion of Lactiplantibacillus, while effectively restraining the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms. In particular, Q1-2 reduced the relative abundance of fungi including Fusarium and Aspergillus. Compared to the control group, the Q1-2 and Q27-2 groups reduced aflatoxin B1 by 34.17% and 16.57%, and deoxynivalenol by up to 90.61% and 51.03%. In short, these two LAB inoculants could reduce the contents of aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol to the limited content levels stipulated by the Chinese National Standard GB 13078-2017. These findings suggest that the LAB strains of Q1-2 and Q27-2 have potential applications in the feed industry for the mitigation of mycotoxin pollution, thereby enhancing the quality of animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body status of livestock affects their physiological function and productive performances. Microsatellites, one of the most used DNA markers, have been found to be associated with pig productive traits. However, their identifications and effects on body measurement traits of the Chinese Qinghai Bamei pig still uncovered. According to our previous sequencing data, in this study, three novel microsatellites were found in this breed. Using time of flight-mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) method, these microsatellites were further identified in a large Bamei pig population. TOF-MS spectra showed that there are three microsatellites loci, named P1, P2 and P3. These microsatellites were linkage equilibrium based on the values of D' and r2 tests. Association results demonstrated that P1 locus was associated with the body length, body height and chest width and the beneficial genotype was 150-/150-bp (p < 0.05); and P2 locus was associated with the body height (p < 0.05), and the 145-/145-bp, 145-/147-bp and 145-/149-bp were claimed as favorable genotypes and 145-bp allele was considered as the favorable allele. These findings suggested that P1 and P2 microsatellites might be considered as the candidate genetic markers to select pigs with superior body sizes, especially in local breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silage, especially whole crop corn silage (WCCS), is an important part of ruminant diets, with its high moisture content and rich nutrient content, which can easily cause contamination by mold and their toxins, posing a great threat to ruminant production, food safety and human health. The objective of this study was to examine effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum subsp. plantarum ZA3 and Artemisia argyi (AA) on the fermentation characteristics, microbial community and mycotoxin of WCCS during 60 days (d) ensiling and subsequent 7 d aerobic exposure. The results showed that WCCS treated with LAB and AA both had lower pH value and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) contents, and higher lactic and acetic acids concentration compared with other groups after 60 d ensiling. In addition, for microbial communities, Acetobacter and Enterobacter were inhibited in all AA group, while higher abundance of Lactobacilli was maintained; besides, Candida, Pichia and Kazachstania abundances were decreased in both 6% and 12% AA groups. The content of five kinds of mycotoxins were all significantly lower after 7 d of aerobic exposure. As for the total flavonoid (TF), which is significantly higher in all AA treated groups, it was positively correlated with Paenibacillus, Weissella and Lactobacilli, and negatively with Acetobacter, Enterobacteria, Kazachstania and Pichia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agropyron is an important germplasm material of the genetic improvement for Gramineae forage and Triticeae crops. In the present research, in order to determine the stable and major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling five significant quality traits, a total of 115 individuals from F2 segregation population of tetraploid hybrid crested wheatgrass and their parents were used as materials. On the basis of the ultra‐high density molecular genetic linkage map of tetraploid crested wheatgrass constructed with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we first determined QTLs for the phenotypic data of five quality traits in three different environments (Hohhot‐2018, Hohhot‐2019 and Tongliao‐2019) in 2 years (2018 and 2019) by Map QTL 6.0 software. The results showed that a total of 28 QTLs controlling quality traits of wheatgrass were located on 11 linkages (LGs), including LG1, LG2, LG3, LG4, LG6, LG7, LG8, LG9, LG12, LG13 and LG14. Among them, there were two QTLs for crude protein content (CPC), four QTLs for water‐soluble carbohydrate content (WSCC), 12 QTLs for starch content (SC), five QTLs for phosphorus content (PC) and five QTLs for calcium content (CC), which accounted for 10.1% to 21.6% of the phenotypic variation and all were major QTLs of genetic contribution rate >10%. However, only six stable QTLs were detected at least in two environments and in the mean environment data, including one for CPC (qCpc4‐1), one for WSCC (qWscc4‐2), two for SC (qSc1‐2, qSc9‐12), one for PC (qPc4‐4) and one for CC (qCc4‐2). These QTLs determining five traits would provide a theoretical basis for further fine mapping and the molecular marker‐assisted selection of elite gene in tetraploid crested wheatgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum ZA3, Artemisia argyi and their combination, on the fermentation characteristics, microbial community, mycotoxins and crude flavonoids content of fermented soybean meal during fermentation (under anaerobic conditions) and aerobic exposure (under aerobic conditions). The results showed that ZA3, Artemisia argyi and ZA3+ Artemisia argyi groups had lower pH values and higher lactic acid concentrations compared with controls, and additives increased the abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and decreased those of Acetobacter and Enterobacter; in particular, Artemisia argyi and ZA3+ Artemisia argyi reduced the abundance of fungi, such as Aspergillus, Pichia, Fusarium, Cladosporium and Xeromyces. Meanwhile, the contents of mycotoxins were lower in treated groups, and even mycotoxins in the control were significantly reduced after 30 d (p < 0.05). Crude flavonoids that were correlated positively with Lactococcus and negatively with Bacillus, Aspergillus, Enterobacter and Kazachstania were significantly higher in the Artemisia argyi and ZA3+ Artemisia argyi groups (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral resistance of dowel-type connections with CLT is related to its lay-up, species of the laminations and even the manufacture method. Treating the CLT as homogeneous material, current methods develop new equations through test results or make use of the existing equations for the embedment strength already used in design codes; thus, the lateral resistance of dowel-type connections of CLT can be calculated. This kind of approach does not take the embedment stress distribution into account, which may lead to inaccuracy in predicting the lateral resistance and yield mode of the dowel-type connections in CLT. In this study, tests of the bolted connections and the screwed connections of CLT were conducted by considering the effects of the orientation of the laminations, the thickness of the connected members, the fastener diameter and strength of the materials. The material properties including yield strength of the fasteners and embedment strength of the CLT laminations were also tested. Using analysis of the dowel-type connections of CLT by introducing the equivalent embedment stress distribution, equations for the lateral resistance of the connections based on the European Yield Model were developed. The predicted lateral resistance and yield modes were in good agreement with the test results; the correctness and the feasibility of the equations were thus validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that dietary fiber can significantly alter the composition and structure of the gut bacterial community in humans and mammals. However, few researches have been conducted on the dynamics of the bacterial community assembly across different graded levels of dietary fiber in different gut regions. To address this, 24 Durco × Bamei crossbred pigs were randomly assigned to four experimental chows comprising graded levels of dietary fiber. Results showed that the α-and β-diversity of the bacterial community was significantly different between the cecum and the jejunum. Adding fiber to the chow significantly increased the α-diversity of the bacterial community in the jejunum and cecum, while the β-diversity decreased. The complexity of the bacterial network increased with the increase of dietary fiber in jejunal content samples, while it decreased in cecal content samples. Furthermore, we found that stochastic processes governed the bacterial community assembly of low and medium dietary fiber groups of jejunal content samples, while deterministic processes dominated the high fiber group. In addition, deterministic processes dominated all cecal content samples. Taken together, the variation of gut community composition and structure in response to dietary fiber was distinct in different gut regions, and the dynamics of bacterial community assembly across the graded levels of dietary fiber in different gut regions was also distinct. These findings enhanced our knowledge on the bacterial community assembly processes in gut ecosystems of livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are an important part of the genome and have become powerful auxiliary DNA markers in animal breeding using marker‐assisted selection (MAS). Based on previous sequencing data of Qinghai Bamei pigs, a total of three novel candidate SSR loci were analysed in this study. Time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF‐MS) was used for SSR genotyping, and association analyses between SSRs and the litter size of Qinghai Bamei sows was also performed. The results of genotyping showed that the (ATC)n‐P1, (AC)n‐P2 and (AC)n‐P3 loci had 2, 3 and 18 genotypes, respectively; 2, 3 and 8 alleles were also identified at these loci. Except for the (AC)n‐P2 locus, the polymorphism information content (PIC) values of other loci were greater than 0.25. Association analyses indicated that only the (ATC)n‐P1 locus was significantly associated with the litter size of Qinghai Bamei sows (p =.047). Compared to 189‐/189‐ genotype, individuals with the 189‐/195‐ genotype had the senior litter size, which was 9.04 ± 0.21. Our results enrich the data on SSRs in Qinghai Bamei pigs and indicate that (ATC)n‐P1 is a candidate locus for MAS in the pig industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corruption and/or poor quality of silages caused by low temperature and freeze-thaw conditions makes it imperative to identify effective starters and low temperature silage fermentation technology that can assist the animal feed industry and improve livestock productivity. The effect of L. plantarum QZ227 on the wheat silage quality was evaluated under conditions at constant low temperatures followed by repeated freezing and thawing at low temperatures. QZ227 became the predominant strain in 10 days and underwent a more intensive lactic acid bacteria fermentation than CK. QZ227 accumulated more lactic acid, but lower pH and ammonia nitrogen in the fermentation. During the repeated freezing and thawing process, the accumulated lactic acid in the silage fermented by QZ227 remained relatively stable. Relative to CK, QZ227 reduced the abundance of fungal pathogens in silage at a constant 5°C, including Aspergillus , Sporidiobolaceae , Hypocreaceae , Pleosporales , Cutaneotrichosporon , Alternaria , and Cystobasidiomycetes. Under varying low temperature conditions from days 40 to days 60, QZ227 reduced the pathogenic abundance of fungi such as Pichia , Aspergillus , Agaricales , and Plectosphaerella. QZ227 also reduced the pathogenic abundance of Mucoromycota after the silage had been exposed to oxygen. In conclusion, QZ227 can be used as a silage additive in the fermentation process at both constant and variable low temperatures to ensure fast and vigorous fermentation because it promotes the rapid accumulation of lactic acid, and reduces pH values and aerobic corruption compared to the CK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper reported the effects of the pre‐reinforcement to the mortise‐tenon joints with glued‐in rods that were mounted near the surface of the tenon. Fifteen full‐scale specimens that were manufactured with engineered wood products using computer numerically controlled technology were tested under monotonic loading. The initial stiffnesses and moment carrying capacities of joints with different reinforcement configurations were obtained from the established moment–rotational angle relationships. It was found from the tests that the initial stiffness of the reinforced mortise‐tenon joints increased by 2.9% to 30.8%, and the moment carrying capacity increased by 13.6% to 32.0%. Further conclusions drawn from the numerical simulation included the following: increasing the embedment length and diameter of rods, as well as the steel strength of rods and decreasing the distance to the surface, could help enhance the initial stiffnesses and moment carrying capacities of the joints. The moment and initial stiffness decreased with increasing of tenon's height to width ratio. By choosing appropriate parameters, the proposed pre‐reinforcement methods significantly increased the initial stiffness and moment carrying capacity. This study demonstrated the feasibility of pre‐reinforcing mortise‐tenon joints in new timber constructions via near‐surface‐mounted glued‐in rods and is meaningful for promoting wider application of mortise‐tenon joints in modern timber structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]