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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver diseases and is known to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which alters cellular homeostasis and metabolic processes. While ER stress is implicated in HCV-related diseases, its precise role remains unclear. This study identifies fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) as a key host factor significantly upregulated by HCV infection. Mechanistic analyses reveal that the activation of the FGF21 promoter by HCV is primarily mediated by the transcription factor ATF4, which is upregulated through the phosphorylation of eIF2α induced by ER stress. Additionally, CREBH activation further enhances ATF4 expression, contributing to increased FGF21 levels. TRIB3, upregulated by ATF4, acts as a negative regulator of FGF21 expression. The study also identifies FGF21-dependent upregulation of SOCS2 and TRIM31 in HCV-infected cells. SOCS2 contributes to the suppression of type 1 interferon signaling, aiding viral persistence, while TRIM31 promotes the degradation of the tumor suppressor protein TSC, activating themTORC1 pathway and potentially promoting liver cell proliferation. These findings suggest that FGF21 upregulation in HCV-infected cells may play a role in both immune response regulation and cell proliferation, contributing to sustained viral infection and disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) has drawn increasing attention in CO2 electroreduction to CO due to its clear coordination structure (Co–N4–C) and high selectivity. However, its performance is severely restrained by its poor stability and low conductivity. Herein, a promising catalyst for dispersing CoPc on three-dimensional porous carbon (PC) was prepared via a pyrolysis procedure using NaCl as the template. Benefiting from the high intrinsic activity and large exposure of active sites, as well as the unique carbon architecture with facilitated mass transportation, the derived CoPc/PC catalyst shows impressive performance for CO2 electroreduction. The CO faradaic efficiency achieves a maximum value of 95% accompanied by a CO partial current density of 20.5 mA cm−2. The study paves a new avenue for the fabrication of high-efficiency molecular catalysts for CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Reportedly, statins can decrease MMP activity in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but this effect has not been studied in healthy individuals. Methods: MMPs 2, 7, and 9 and several other parameters were measured before and after a four-week course of moderate-dose atorvastatin (20 mg/day) in 21 healthy individuals. Results: Atorvastatin treatment resulted in lower total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001 for all), but higher levels of plasma enzymes AST, ALT, CK, and LDH (p < 0.05 for all). No effect of atorvastatin on plasma MMP median concentrations was recorded. Before treatment, moderate positive significant correlations were found between MMP-7 and age, blood lipids, and blood count-derived inflammatory markers. Pre-treatment MMP-7 was best predicted by the total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in a remnant cholesterol-weighted least squares regression model. After atorvastatin treatment, MMP-7 no longer correlated with these markers. Conclusions: While the effect of statins on plasma MMPs in atherosclerosis is controversial, short-term moderate-dose atorvastatin treatment does not seem to affect levels of MMPs 2, 7, and 9 in healthy individuals. However, an intriguing correlation between MMP-7 and atherosclerosis-related blood lipids and neutrophil-associated inflammatory biomarkers seems to be disrupted by atorvastatin independently of hsCRP, possibly via pleiotropic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluoxetine is present in breast milk, yet it is unclear to what extent it, or its active metabolite, norfluoxetine, reaches the brain of the infant and what the effects of such exposure on neurobiological processes are. We therefore aimed to quantify the concentration of passively administered fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in the whole brains of exposed Flinders sensitive line (FSL) offspring and establish their influence on serotonergic function and redox status. Methods: Adult FSL dams received fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day), or placebo for fourteen days, beginning on postpartum day 04. Offspring were passively exposed to fluoxetine until postnatal day 18 and euthanized on postnatal day 22. Whole brain fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were measured via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Results: Whole-brain serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations, and serotonin turnover (5-HIAA/5-HT) were comparable between strains. Treatment-naïve FSL rats had lower GSH and higher GSSG whole-brain concentrations, relative to FRL controls, and an overall decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. Passively administered fluoxetine resulted in undetectable whole-brain concentrations, while norfluoxetine averaged 41.28 ± 6.47 ng/g. Serotonin turnover of FSL rats was unaffected by passively administered fluoxetine, while redox status (GSH/GSSG) was decreased. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that passively administered fluoxetine reaches the infant brain in the form of norfluoxetine and may manipulate processes of oxidative stress regulation. Further studies into the long-term bio-behavioural effects are however needed to effectively inform breast feeding mothers on the safety of antidepressant-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium–lithium hybrid batteries (MLHBs) using a dual-ion electrolyte and safe Mg anode have promising potential for high-performance energy storage. Here, we develop an MLHB constructed of a hollow multi-layered NiS/Co3S4/carbon cathode and an all-phenyl-complex/lithium chloride (APC-LiCl) electrolyte. The hollow multi-layered structure and carbon matrix accommodate volumetric expansion and facilitate electrolyte penetration. The APC-LiCl electrolyte displays a stable electrochemical window. The MLHB shows a high specific capacity of 398 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, and a stable capacity at 1.0 A g−1 after cycling 500 times. Moreover, stable rate performance and temperature tolerance are achievable. These findings would enable this design to be promising for developing other hybrid battery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid skirted foundations have remarkably catered to the escalating demands in larger load-bearing capacity of offshore wind turbines due to its outstanding horizontal load resistance capacity and cost-effectiveness in steel utilization. This study employed numerical analysis to investigate the failure mechanisms of hybrid skirted foundations under combined VHM (vertical, horizontal, and moment) loading in silty sand-over-clay deposit and to quantify its load-bearing capacity. Comparisons are made between previous published data and this study, in terms of the failure mechanisms of hybrid skirted foundations in both layered and single-clay soil, yielding a robust consensus. Then, a parametric study is employed to provide insight into the effects of foundation dimensions, upper sand layer thickness, soil parameters, and load intensity on the load-bearing capacity of the hybrid skirted foundation. The research demonstrates that the sand layer thickness and the aspect ratio of foundations play significant influence on the behavioral characteristics of hybrid skirted foundation in a silty sand-over-clay soil deposit. An empirical approximate expression is suggested to estimate the uniaxial and combined bearing capacity of hybrid skirted foundations in silty sand-over-clay deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging pollutants such as microplastics in water environments readily accumulate microorganisms on their surfaces, forming biofilms and concentrating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Consequently, microplastic biofilms have attracted the attention of researchers. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs is one of the primary ways that bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance. Most studies focus on the effects of nanomaterials on suspended bacteria, but microplastic biofilms as hotspots for horizontal gene transfer also warrant significant investigation. This study primarily explored and compared the effects of nano-titanium dioxide on the conjugation transfer frequency of ARGs in suspended bacteria and microplastic biofilms. Nano-titanium dioxide could promote ARG conjugation in both suspended bacteria and microplastic biofilms, with a greater effect on the former. The mechanism involved nano-titanium dioxide promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in suspended and biofilm bacteria, increasing the synthesis of outer membrane proteins, enhancing the cell membrane permeability, and elevating the expression levels of conjugation-related genes, thereby facilitating the conjugation transfer of ARGs. Biofilm bacteria, being heavily encased and protected by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), exhibit greater resistance to external environmental pressure, resulting in the weaker impact of nano-titanium dioxide on biofilm bacteria compared to suspended bacteria. This study reveals the risk of ARG conjugation transfer within microplastic biofilms induced by nanomaterials, providing valuable insights into the risks of microplastic and antibiotic resistance dissemination in water environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant increases in temperature and precipitation due to global warming affect socioeconomics. Accurate analysis is needed for future temperature and precipitation variations across the Yangtze River basin (YRB). A novel quantile delta-mapped spatial disaggregation (QDMSD) approach was developed in this study to analyze temperature and precipitation changes for the first time. The evaluation results show that the QDMSD has a similar performance in simulating temperature with the bias correction and spatial disaggregation (BCSD) model, while it shows improvement in reproducing precipitation. Projections indicate the annual-mean temperature will increase from 2020 to 2080 under shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. The projected temperature obtained from five downscaled GCMs has the smallest range of differences in summer. Conversely, annual-mean temperatures significantly decrease from 2081 to 2100 under SSP2-4.5. In terms of spatial distribution characteristics, most of the positive changes tend to expand across the YRB. The annual-mean precipitation will increase from 2020 to 2080 but decrease from 2081 to 2100 under SSP2-4.5 over the YRB. In terms of spatial distribution, precipitation in the southeast region of the YRB will increase, and the maximum variations in precipitation will occur downstream of the YRB. The QDMSD method reproduces observed precipitation trends well and enhances simulation accuracy in the YRB. For projected temperature, there will be a widespread increase across the YRB; for projected precipitation, significant increases will occur in the eastern YRB. These findings support policymaking to address potential risks from temperature and precipitation changes across multiple sectors (e.g., agriculture and industry). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reindeer have long been served as vital subsistence resources for inhabitants of Arctic and subarctic regions owing to their domestication. However, the evolutionary relationships and divergence times among different reindeer populations, genetic traits that distinguish domesticated reindeer, and factors that contribute to their relative docility compared with that of other Cervidae specie, remain unclear. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 32 individuals from wild and domestic reindeer populations that inhabit Arctic and subarctic regions. We found that reindeer experienced 2 or more independent domestication events characterized by weak artificial selection pressure and limited significant differences in genomic parameters between wild and domestic populations. Alterations in conserved noncoding elements in the reindeer genomes, particularly those associated with nervous system development, may have contributed to their domestication by rendering the nervous system less responsive. Together, our results suggest that inherent species-specific traits, rather than intense artificial selection, may have played a significant role in the relatively docile behavior of reindeer and offer valuable insights into the domestication process of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Computer-Aided Design & Computer Graphics / Jisuanji Fuzhu Sheji Yu Tuxingxue Xuebao is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Early embryonic development determines fetal and adult development. However, little is known about the specific development of the early Mongolian sheep embryo. We aim to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 16-day embryos of two breeds of Mongolian sheep, namely, Hulunbuir short-tailed sheep and Ujumqin sheep, by mRNA sequencing. A total of 2152 DEGs were identified. Significantly DEGs include WNT5A, WNT2, AXIN2, BMP5, TGFB2, and SMAD9, which are involved in multiple signaling pathways, and genes involved in digestion and absorption and cellular differentiation, such as DPP4, ACE2, PLPP1, CD22, CD44, TEC, and JAK1. In the pathway analysis, the development of Hulunbuir short-tailed sheep 16-day embryo H(E16) highlighted pathways primarily associated with cellular interactions and organogenesis. These pathways are critical for transcriptional control during early embryonic development, especially organ formation. Genes that sophisticate organs and body mechanisms, and genes associated with protein and fat digestion, hematopoietic stem cell lineage and osteoblast differentiation, are enriched during the development of the Ujumqin sheep 16-day embryo U(E16). Our work provides important complementary reference data for the study of early embryonic development in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the initial errors in the whole Pacific that are most likely to affect the predictions of two types of El Niño events, the sensitive area of ocean temperature in the whole Pacific for El Niño prediction starting from January is identified by using the Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory CM2P1, a fully coupled global climate model. The error growth analysis and the numerical experiments illustrated that, the initial ocean temperature in the Victoria mode (VM) region in the North Pacific will affect the intensity predictions of the CPEl Niño while that in the subsurface layer of the west equatorial Pacific and the surface layer of southeast Pacific will modulate the spatial structure predictions of CP-El Niño. But for EP-El Niño, the former plus the surface layer of the equatorial central eastern pacific will modulate the spatial structure predictions of the event while the latter is shown to be more effective in predictions of the intensity of the event. Furthermore, if targeted observations are conducted in the sensitive area of the whole Pacific, the El Niño prediction skills, including intensity and spatial structure predictions, could be greatly improved for both EP- and CP-El Niño events. Neither the sensitive area of subtropical Pacific nor the tropical Pacific can be precluded as accurate indicators when forecasting particular flavors and the intensity of El Niño events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a pressing global health challenge, and the identification of novel mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis is of utmost importance. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a pivotal player in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This review delves into the discovery of ferroptosis, the critical players involved, and their intricate role in the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration, with an emphasis on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We critically appraise unsolved mechanistic links involved in the initiation and propagation of ferroptosis, such as a signaling cascade resulting in the de-repression of lipoxygenase translation and the role played by mitochondrial voltage-dependent anionic channels in iron homeostasis. Particular attention is given to the dual role of heme oxygenase in ferroptosis, which may be linked to the non-specific activity of P450 reductase in the endoplasmic reticulum. Despite the limited knowledge of ferroptosis initiation and progression in neurodegeneration, Nrf2/Bach1 target genes have emerged as crucial defenders in anti-ferroptotic pathways. The activation of Nrf2 and the inhibition of Bach1 can counteract ferroptosis and present a promising avenue for future therapeutic interventions targeting ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) IRAS F01004−2237 exhibits 100 kpc scale continuum emission at radio wavelengths. The absence of extended X-ray emission in IRAS F01004−2237 has suggested an active galactic nucleus (AGN) origin for the extended radio emission, whose properties and role in merging systems still need to be better understood. We present the results of multifrequency observations of IRAS F01004−2237 conducted by the Very Long Baseline Array at 2.3 and 8.4 GHz. Compact 8.4 GHz continuum emission was detected on a 1 pc scale in the nuclear region with an intrinsic brightness temperature of 108.1 K suggesting that the radio source originated from an AGN, potentially driving the extended emission. In contrast, no significant emission was observed at 2.3 GHz, indicating the presence of low-frequency absorption. This absorption cannot be attributed solely to synchrotron self-absorption; alternatively, free–free absorption due to thermal plasma is mainly at work in the spectrum. From combined perspectives, including mid-infrared and X-ray data, the AGN is obscured in a dense environment. The kinetic power of the nonthermal jet, as inferred from the extended emission, can play a more important role in dispersing the surrounding medium than the thermal outflow in IRAS F01004−2237. These findings hint that jet activities in ULIRGs may contribute to AGN feedback during galaxy evolution induced by merger events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the genetic diversity and selection characteristics of sheep (Ovis aries) holds significant value in understanding their environmental adaptability, enhancing breeding efficiency, and achieving effective conservation and rational utilization of genetic resources. In this study, we utilized Illumina Ovine SNP 50 K BeadChip data from four indigenous sheep breeds from the southern margin of the Taklamakan Desert (Duolang sheep: n = 36, Hetian sheep: n = 74, Kunlun sheep: n = 27, Qira black sheep: n = 178) and three foreign meat sheep breeds (Poll Dorset sheep: n = 105, Suffolk sheep: n = 153, Texel sheep: n = 150) to investigate the population structure, genetic diversity, and genomic signals of positive selection within the indigenous sheep. According to the Principal component analysis (PCA), the Neighbor-Joining tree (NJ tree), and Admixture, we revealed distinct clustering patterns of these seven sheep breeds based on their geographical distribution. Then used Cross Population Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (XP-EHH), Fixation Index (FST), and Integrated Haplotype Score (iHS), we identified a collective set of 32 overlapping genes under positive selection across four indigenous sheep breeds. These genes are associated with wool follicle development and wool traits, desert environmental adaptability, disease resistance, reproduction, and high-altitude adaptability. This study reveals the population structure and genomic selection characteristics in the extreme desert environments of native sheep breeds from the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, providing new insights into the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous sheep genetic resources in extreme environments. Additionally, these findings offer valuable genetic resources for sheep and other mammals to adapt to global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing requirements regarding the safety of using polymers and their composites are related to the emergence of more effective, sustainable, and hazardous-limited fire retardants (FRs). Significant amounts of FRs are usually required to effectively affect a polymer's burning behavior, while the knowledge of their recycling potential is still insufficient. At the same time, concerns are related not only to the reduced effectiveness of flame retardancy but also, above all, to the potential deterioration of mechanical properties caused by the degradation of temperature-affected additives under processing conditions. This study describes the impact of the four-time reprocessing of bio-based polyamide 11 (PA11) modified with an intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine cyanurate (MC), and pentaerythritol (PER) and its composites containing additional short basalt fibers (BFs). Composites manufactured via twin-screw extrusion were subjected to four reprocessing cycles using injection molding. A comprehensive analysis of their structural, mechanical, and fire behavior changes in each cycle was conducted. The obtained results confirmed the safety of using the proposed fire-retarded polyamide and its composites while reprocessing under the recommended process parameters without the risk of significant changes in the structure. The partial increase in flammability of reprocessed PA-based materials caused mainly by polymer degradation has been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supernumerary teats (SNT) are a prevalent and intricate polygenic trait that is frequently observed at birth in sheep. These additional teats have been linked to a heritable trait associated with maternal capability, especially in ewes with high fertility. Investigating the genomic basis of these characteristics is an ongoing endeavor and poses an intriguing research inquiry with implications for both biological understanding and practical applications. In order to delve into this scientific enigma, a specific cohort of 20 local fat-tailed Ghezel ewes, each possessing four functional teats, was carefully chosen to form the case group. In parallel, a control group comprising 25 healthy ewes with the standard two normal teats was established for comparative analysis. Blood samples were meticulously collected from both groups of Ghezel ewes demonstrating distinct phenotypic expressions, specifically those with either two or four functional teats. Following the sample collection, the genomic DNA extraction process was carried out using a commercial DNA purification kit provided by Qiagen company, known for its high-quality DNA extraction products. We conducted an examination of four PCR-RFLP markers on four candidate genes (IGF1, Leptin, Calpastatin, and FBP30). Through our research, we unveiled the allele distribution and genotype frequency of these potential genes in both the case and control groups of sheep. Our findings demonstrated notable disparities in the genotype and gene frequencies between the case and control groups for each candidate gene. Furthermore, we calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs) under Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium using various genetic models. The χ2 test was also utilized to compare the genotype and allele distribution of these candidate gene polymorphisms between the case and control groups. The results of our study are particularly intriguing as they indicate that individuals with an AA genotype for the leptin gene are significantly more likely to have four additional functional teats (OR=7.7143, 95 percent CI=1.6025, Pvalue= 0.0108). Additionally, the results in a dominant model (AA vs. GA+GG) revealed an OR of 0.1296 and 95 percent CI of 0.02669-0.6240, with a p-value of 0.0108, further highlighting the association between leptin genotypes and supernumerary teats (SNT). Moreover, the risk of having more than four functional teats is heightened by the GG genotype in the FBP3 gene (P<0.13). However, our analysis did not uncover any additional significant correlation between the polymorphism of another investigated candidate gene and supernumerary teats (SNT). Overall, this topic presents an intriguing area that warrants further research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms governing the development of four functional teats in ewes with large litter sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursing ability of productive ewes has been a subject of extensive research. From today's perspective, the survivability of multiple lambs of highly productive ewes in birth time depends largely on the number of functional teats. Different expression patterns in a range of candidate genes may act as a regulatory signal for a particular phenotype from a molecular genetic perspective. A molecular study was developed to validate the supernumerary teats characteristics. The second research phase includes a case-control application study to analyze the gene expression patterns of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) genes. The approach utilized standard laboratory techniques for RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and cyber green dye-based gene expression quantification. When comparing two routine teat groups with four teats observation of the gene expression profile clearly shows the FGF2 gene pattern (P<0.01), There was no obvious difference in ESR1 gene response between the two experimental groups. This means that by combining promising gene expression tools, molecular approaches and evidence to validate gene expression in ewe carry supernumerary teats which will ultimately improve sheep production. Future research could provide valuable insights into the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction1: Genetic architecture of sheep reproduction is increasingly gaining scientific interest due to the major impact on sheep production systems. The number of lambs per lambing is one of the m ost important reproductive traits in sheep. Many studies have reported that genetic mechanisms play an important role in the variation of litter size in sheep. Reproductive traits normally show low heritability and therefore response to conventional selection methods is not satisfactory for these traits. Considering the genetic information of the genetic variants underlying reproduction variability could efficiently increase the selection efficacy. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been used to identify associations between genotypes and phenotypes as well as candidate genes for reproductive economically important traits. Statistical power in GWAS is mostly affected by sample size. The low sample size is hence a main obstacle in GWAS. Combining multiple data sets of different studies for joint (mega) GWAS provides an opportunity to increase the sample size required for GWAS. This study was performed to identify genomic regions affecting litter size in different sheep breeds using the mega-analysis of GWAS. Materials and Methods: Multi-population joint GWAS was performed using genotypic and phenotypic data of three sheep breeds including native Zandi and two breed retrieved from the database. Quality control was performed using the Plink software. The markers or individuals were removed from the further study based on the following criteria: (1) unknown chromosomal or physical location, call rate <0.90, missing genotype frequency >0.05, minor allele frequency (MAF) < 0.05, and a P value for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test less than 10-6. Before analysis, imputation of missing genotypes for combined data set was implemented by LD-kNNi method. Mega-analysis was performed using a mixed linear model in TASSEL software considering kinship and population structure (top five components of principal component analysis (PCA)) as confounding effects. The quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plot was visualized by plotting the distribution of obtained vs. expected log10 (P-value). The association results along the genome and the significant SNPs were visualized in the Manhattan plot. To account for multiple test problem and identify the genome-wide significance level, Bonferroni test was used based on the number of independent SNPs obtained from pairwise linkage disequilibrium analysis. After GWAS analysis, the 500 bp sequence upstream and downstream of the significant SNP was explored to identify the adjacent candidate genes using ARS-UI_Ramb_v2.0 (Genome Data Viewer). Results and Discussion: In the present study, we implemented a mega GWAS using three different sheep breed data to identify the genetic mechanisms responsible for litter size in sheep. After quality control, 671 animals and 45167 SNP markers were kept for further analysis. The results of the mega-analysis identified nine marker on chromosome on chromosomes 1 (two SNP), 2, 3 (two SNP), 10, 13 (two SNP), and 22. The quantile-quantile plot that features the total distribution of the observed P-values (-log10 P-values) of quality passed SNPs vs. the expected values, showed the effective control for confounding effects. Many of the significant SNPs identified in this study were located in or very adjacent to known genes (DLG1, CLSTN2, INHBE, TCFL5, and RBP4) that have been already reported for their contribution to fertility and pregnancy success. It has been reported that the RBP4 gene is expressed during the period of fast elongation of the pig blastocyst which is a crucial period for the survival of the embryos. Also, it has been suggested that CLSTN2 has the main contribution in uterine and conceptus physiology during the establishment of pregnancy and therefore can be considered as a candidate gene for litter size. INHBE has an essential function during ovulation and pregnancy through extracellular matrix (ECM) components degradation and therefore enabling cell migration and angiogenesis. Conclusion: Comparison of the results of this study with previous reports showed that the mega-analysis of GWAS, compared to the meta-analysis already reported for GWAS results, had comparable power in identifying genomic regions influencing litter size in sheep but identified fewer genomic regions than individual GWAS for each breed. No previously reported major genes controlling litter size in sheep were identified using our mega GWAS. The results of our research are suggested for further investigations in identifying causal genetic variants or genomic regions underlying the litter size variation in sheep and can be used to understand the genetic mechanism controlling this trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drinking water quality management has been one of the main pillars of primary water prevention for more than a century and a half and continues to be the foundation for the prevention and control of waterrelated diseases. Therefore, the application of verified microbiological methods providing reliable results is of great importance for assessing the quality of drinking water. Aim: Detection and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in drinking water experimentally contaminated with a strain of this microorganism. Determining the main characteristics of the membrane filtration method, ensuring the reliability of the results obtained, thus guaranteeing prevention and protecting the consumers health. Material and methods: A standard microbiological method for the detection and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in drinking water was applied - BDS EN ISO 16266:2006 „Water quality. Detection and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Membrane filtration method“ as well as standard methods for determining the main characteristics of the method. Twenty samples of 100 ml drinking water were artificially contaminated with CRM Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After incubation of the membrane filters on a selective nutrient medium - Cetrimid agar, confirmatory tests are carried out. Results: The proven Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a given volume of water are all pyocyanin-producing colonies that are oxidase (+), fluoresce under an UV lamp and produce ammonia from acetamide. The data obtained confirming the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a psychrophile to grow at low temperatures and in nutrient-poor oligotrophic environments, such as drinking water, were used to verify the applied method. Conclusion: The microbiological monitoring of water, through the application of verified microbiological methods, is a basis for preventing infections and a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. The potential risks to consumers can be detected at an early stage and early protection measures can be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) are contaminants of emerging concern with marked potential to impact public and environmental health. This review focusses on factors that influence the presence, abundance, and dissemination of ARGs within Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and associated effluents. Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (ARB) and ARGs have been detected in the influent and the effluent of WWTPs worldwide. Different levels of wastewater treatment (primary, secondary, and tertiary) show different degrees of removal efficiency of ARGs, with further differences being observed when ARGs are captured as intracellular or extracellular forms. Furthermore, routinely used molecular methodologies such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction or whole genome sequencing may also vary in resistome identification and in quantifying ARG removal efficiencies from WWTP effluents. Additionally, we provide an overview of the One Health risk assessment framework, as well as future strategies on how WWTPs can be assessed for environmental and public health impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the spectra of the prospective exotic hidden-charm and hidden-bottom baryonium, viz. the baryon–antibaryon states, with J PC = 0 - - and 0 + - are investigated in the framework of QCD sum rules. The non-perturbative contributions up to dimension 12 are taken into account. Numerical results indicate that there might exist 3 possible 0 - - hidden-charm baryonium states with masses (5.22 ± 0.26) , (5.52 ± 0.25) , and (5.46 ± 0.24) GeV, and 5 possible 0 + - hidden-charm baryonium states with masses (4.76 ± 0.28) , (5.24 ± 0.28) , (5.16 ± 0.27) , (5.52 ± 0.27) , and (5.69 ± 0.27) GeV, respectively. The corresponding hidden-bottom partners are found lying in the range of 11.68 - 12.28 GeV and 11.38 - 12.33 GeV, respectively. The possible baryonium decay modes are analyzed, which are hopefully measurable in LHC experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark matter density can be significantly enhanced by the supermassive black hole at the galactic center, leading to a structure called dark matter spike. Dark matter spike may change the spacetime properties of black holes that constitute deviations from GR black holes. Based on these interesting background, we construct a set of solutions of black holes in a dark matter spike under the Newtonian approximation and full relativity. Combining the mass model of M87, we study the quasinormal modes of black holes in the scalar field and axial gravitational perturbation, then compared them with Schwarzschild black hole. Besides, the impacts of dark matter on the quasinormal mode of black holes have been studied in depth. In particular, in the axial gravitational perturbation, our results show that the impacts of dark matter spike on the quasinormal mode of black holes can reach up to 10 - 4 . These new features from quasinormal mode of black holes under the Newtonian approximation and full relativity may provide some help for the establishment of the final dark matter model, and provide a new thought for the indirect detection of dark matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natural Gas Geoscience is the property of Natural Gas Geoscience and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Resources & Environment / Nongye Ziyuan yu Huanjing Xuebao is the property of Journal of Agricultural Resources & Environment Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wastewater monitoring provides essential information about water quality and the degree of contamination. Monitoring these waters helps identify and manage risks to public health, prevent the spread of disease, and protect the environment. Standardizing the appropriate and most accurate methods for the isolation and identification of viruses in wastewater is necessary. This review aims to present the major classes of viruses in wastewater, as well as the methods of concentration, isolation, and identification of viruses in wastewater to assess public health risks and implement corrective measures to prevent and control viral infections. Last but not least, we propose to evaluate the current strategies in wastewater treatment as well as new alternative methods of water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guangdong Agricultural Sciences is the property of South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Identification of selection signatures may provide a better understanding of domestication process and candidate genes contributing to this process. In this study, two populations of domestic and wild goats from Iran were analyzed to identify selection signatures. RSB, iHS, and XP-EHH statistics were used in order to identify robust selection signatures in the goat genome. Genotype data of domestic and wild goats from the NextGen project was used. The data was related to 18 Capra aegagrus (wild goat) and 20 Capra hircus (domestic goat) from Iran. The iHS method indicated 675 and 441 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. RSB and XP-EHH methods showed about 370 and 447 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. These selection signatures were mainly associated with milk production, fleece trait, mammary epithelial cells, reproduction, and immune system., (© 2023 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Food safety has become an important public health issue, rapid and accurate monitoring and detection of foodborne pathogens is one of the most effective ways to control and prevent human foodborne diseases. The complexity of food matrices, the diversity of bacteria and their different growth and replication characteristics pose a major challenge for the detection of foodborne pathogens. Traditional microbial detection methods are time-consuming and laborious, and cannot meet the requirements of non-culturable viable bacterial cells and rapid on-site food detection. Therefore, in recent years, various immunoassays for foodborne pathogens have been developed, which are more sensitive, simple and efficient than the traditional methods, and have broad application prospects. Based on the biological characteristics of sublethal injury, viable but non-culturable (VBNC) and dormant states, as well as the types and characteristics of antibodies, this paper reviewed the detection principle, advantages and disadvantages, and applications of the current common immunoassays for foodborne pathogens. The limitations of the existing methods and the future development direction were discussed to provide reference for the development and utilization of immunoassays for foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reindeer, called caribou in North America, has a circumpolar distribution and all extant populations belong to the same species (Rangifer tarandus). It has survived the Holocene thanks to its immense adaptability and successful coexistence with humans in different forms of hunting and herding cultures. Here, we examine the paternal and maternal history of Rangifer based on robust Y‐chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) trees representing Eurasian tundra reindeer, Finnish forest reindeer, Svalbard reindeer, Alaska tundra caribou, and woodland caribou. We first assembled Y‐chromosomal contigs, representing 1.3 Mb of single‐copy Y regions. Based on 545 Y‐chromosomal and 458 mtDNA SNPs defined in 55 males, maximum parsimony trees were created. We observed two well separated clades in both phylogenies: the "EuroBeringian clade" formed by animals from Arctic Islands, Eurasia, and a few from North America and the "North American clade" formed only by caribou from North America. The time calibrated Y tree revealed an expansion and dispersal of lineages across continents after the Last Glacial Maximum. We show for the first time unique paternal lineages in Svalbard reindeer and Finnish forest reindeer and reveal a circumscribed Y haplogroup in Fennoscandian tundra reindeer. The Y chromosome in domesticated reindeer is markedly diverse indicating that several male lineages have undergone domestication and less intensive selection on males. This study places R. tarandus onto the list of species with resolved Y and mtDNA phylogenies and builds the basis for studies of the distribution and origin of paternal and maternal lineages in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron dependence and lipid peroxidation. Since the ferroptosis was proposed, researchers have revealed the mechanisms of its formation and continue to explore effective inhibitors of ferroptosis in disease. Recent studies have shown a correlation between ferroptosis and the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as diseases involving tissue or organ damage. Acting on ferroptosis-related targets may provide new strategies for the treatment of ferroptosis-mediated diseases. This article specifically describes the metabolic pathways of ferroptosis and summarizes the reported mechanisms of action of natural and synthetic small molecule inhibitors of ferroptosis and their efficacy in disease. The paper also describes ferroptosis treatments such as gene therapy, cell therapy, and nanotechnology, and summarises the challenges encountered in the clinical translation of ferroptosis inhibitors. Finally, the relationship between ferroptosis and other modes of cell death is discussed, hopefully paving the way for future drug design and discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torpedo anchor is one offshore anchoring which has been gaining popularity recently for floating structures. The torpedo anchor was expected to resist the environmental loading transferred from the floating platform. Thus, the understanding of the holding capacity of torpedo anchors under vertical and horizontal combined loading is the key concern of its design. Nonetheless, most of the previous studies are deterministic without considering the common existing random heterogeneity nature of marine soil. In light of this situation, this paper reports a large deformation random finite element study under the framework of the Monte Carlo method. VH failure envelopes of torpedo anchors in heterogeneous soil were obtained by conducting simulations of continuous extraction procedures along different directions. Furthermore, the strain-softening behaviour of the soil was also accounted for considering the server deformation of the soil. The results show that both the size and shape of the VH failure envelope are significantly affected by random heterogeneity of soil. A series of VH failure envelopes of various probabilities of failure was thus given to guide the design. Results in this paper may be constructive for the safety design of the torpedo anchor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider recently constructed black holes in the Einstein SU(N)-non-linear sigma model and study the Joule–Thomson expansion and observable characteristics. We calculate Joule–Thomson coefficient, inversion curves and isenthalpic curves to investigate the heating and cooling phases in T - P plane of the considered model. Our findings reveal distinct behavior of these black holes different from those reported in existing studies. Notably, inversion curves vanish in the heating regions, resulting in the black holes consistently remaining in the cooling phase. Additionally, we investigate the impact of the flavor number N on the Joule–Thomson expansion of these black holes. We observe that employing higher values of enthalpy and flavor number N extends the ranges of isenthalpic and inversion curves but the black holes remain in cooling phase. We also study the shadow and visual characteristics of the these black hole focusing on its illumination by two theoretical models of static accretion. We analyze that higher flavor numbers have high peaks of observed intensities and it shifts to smaller impact parameter which leads to smaller images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an invaluable Chinese sheep germplasm resource, Hu sheep are renowned for their high fertility and beautiful wavy lambskins. Their distinctive characteristics have evolved over time through a combination of artificial and natural selection. Identifying selection signatures in Hu sheep can provide a straightforward insight into the mechanism of selection and further uncover the candidate genes associated with breed‐specific traits subject to selection. Here, we conducted whole‐genome resequencing on 206 Hu sheep individuals, each with an approximate 6‐fold depth of coverage. And then we employed three complementary approaches, including composite likelihood ratio, integrated haplotype homozygosity score and the detection of runs of homozygosity, to detect selection signatures. In total, 10 candidate genomic regions displaying selection signatures were simultaneously identified by multiple methods, spanning 88.54 Mb. After annotating, these genomic regions harbored collectively 92 unique genes. Interestingly, 32 candidate genes associated with reproduction were distributed in nine genomic regions detected. Out of them, two stood out as star candidates: BMPR1B and GNRH2, both of which have documented associations with fertility, and a HOXA gene cluster (HOXA1‐5, HOXA9, HOXA10, HOXA11 and HOXA13) had also been linked to fertility. Additionally, we identified other genes that are related to hair follicle development (LAMTOR3, EEF1A2), ear size (HOXA1, KCNQ2), fat tail formation (HOXA10, HOXA11), growth and development (FAF1, CCNDBP1, GJB2, GJA3), fat deposition (ACOXL, JAZF1, HOXA3, HOXA4, HOXA5, EBF4), immune (UBR1, FASTKD5) and feed intake (DAPP1, RNF17, NPBWR2). Our results offer novel insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the selection of breed‐specific traits in Hu sheep and provide a reference for sheep genetic improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of photoactive layer materials for organic solar cells (OSCs) is essential for the photoelectric conversion process. It is well known that chlorophyll is an abundant pigment in nature and is extremely valuable for photosynthesis. However, there is little research on how to improve the efficiency of chlorophyll-based OSCs by matching chlorophyll derivatives with excellent non-fullerene acceptors to form heterojunctions. Therefore in this study we utilize a chlorophyll derivative, Ce6Me3, as a donor material and investigate the performance of its heterojunction with acceptor materials. Through density functional theory, the photoelectric performances of acceptors, including the fullerene derivative PC71BM and the terminal halogenated non-fullerene DTBCIC series, are compared in detail. It is found that DTBCIC-Cl has better planarity, light absorption, electron affinity, charge reorganization energy and charge mobility than others. Ce6Me3 has good energy level matching and absorption spectral complementarity with the investigated acceptor molecules and also shows good electron donor properties. Furthermore, the designed Ce6Me3/DTBCIC interfaces have improved charge separation and reorganization rates (K CS/ K CR) compared with the Ce6Me3/PC71BM interface. This research provides a theoretical basis for the design of photoactive layer materials for chlorophyll-based OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Blood safety levels have been significantly improved since the implementation of nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for blood donors. However, there remains a residual risk of transfusion transmission infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its residual risk transmission among volunteer blood donors of Zhejiang Province, China, for five years after NAT implementation. Materials and Methods. All specimens and information were collected from voluntary unpaid donors at all blood services in Zhejiang Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. The HIV antibody or antigen and HIV RNA were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NAT, respectively. The HIV residual risk transmission was calculated using the incidence or window period model. Results. A total of 3,375,678 voluntary blood donors were detected, revealing an HIV prevalence of 9.92/100000. The HIV prevalence of blood donors in 12 blood services in Zhejiang Province was 6.11, 6.98, 7.45, 8.21, 8.36, 8.94, 9.04, 9.66, 9.73, 10.22, 11.80, and 12.47 per 100000 donors, without statistically significant difference observed among the services (p > 0.05). The HIV prevalence of males (15.49/100000) was significantly higher compared to females (1.95/100000; p < 0.05). There was an insignificant difference in HIV prevalence among blood donors of all different age groups (p > 0.05), but the HIV prevalence in the 26–35 age group and 18–25 age group was significantly higher compared to the 36–45 age group (p < 0.05). The difference in HIV prevalence between first-time blood donors (13.65/100,000) and repeat blood donors (6.78/100,000) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). From 2018 to 2022, the HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission was 0.266/100000. Conclusion. The prevalence of HIV among blood donors in Zhejiang Province, China, is associated with age, gender, and times of blood donation. The HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission remains low in the province, and increasing the rate of repeat blood donors is beneficial to improve blood safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accretion of black holes at near-Eddington or super-Eddington rates represents the most powerful episode driving black hole growth, potentially occurring across various types of objects. However, the physics governing accretion and jet–disk coupling in such states remains unclear, primarily due to the difficulty in detecting associated jets, which may emit extremely weakly or exhibit episodic behavior. Only a few near/super-Eddington systems have demonstrated radio activity, and it remains uncertain whether jets exist and what their properties are in super-Eddington active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and ultraluminous X-ray sources. This uncertainty stems mainly from the complex radio emission mix, which includes contributions from jets, star formation activity, photoionized gas, accretion disk wind, and coronal activity. In this work, we conducted high-resolution, very long baseline interferometry observations to investigate jets in the highly accreting narrow-line Seyfert I system I Zw 1. Our observations successfully revealed small-scale jets (with a linear size of ∼45 pc) at both 1.5 and 5 GHz, based on the high radio brightness temperature, radio morphology, and spectral index distribution. Additionally, the parsec-scale jet observed in I Zw 1 displays a knotted morphology reminiscent of other sources accreting at similar rates. In summary, the high accretion rates and jet properties observed in the AGN I Zw 1 may support the AGN/X-ray binary analogy in this extreme state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)