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Abstract The spectral properties are the most prevalent continuous representation for characterizing transport phenomena and excitation responses, yet their accurate predictions remain a challenge due to the inability to perceive series correlations by existing machine learning (ML) models. Herein, a ML model named cluster‐based series graph networks (CSGN) is developed based on the dynamical theory of crystal lattices to predict phonon density of states (PDOS) spectrum for crystal materials. The multiple atomic cluster representation is constructed to capture the diverse vibration modes, while the mixture Gaussian process and dynamic time warping mechanism are compiled to project from clusters to PDOS spectrum. Accurate predictions of complicated spectra with multiple or overlapping peaks are achieved. The high performance of CSGN model can be attributed to the pertinent feature extraction and the appropriate similarity evaluation, which enable the natural perception of structure‐property relation and intrinsic series correlations as confirmed in the predictive results. The transferable and interpretable CSGN model advances ML predictions of spectral properties and reveals the potential of designing ML methods based on physical mechanisms.

To deeply understanding the impact of peripheral energy level on the development of ovaries during the sexual maturation of chicken, in this study, the ovaries and serum of sexually mature and immature chickens at the same age from different energy level groups were collected, and the proteome and metabolome were detected. The results of ovarian and serum metabolomics revealed that dietary energy levels affected the energy metabolism and fatty acid oxidation of ovary in chicken, including the up-regulated expression of dihydroacetone phosphate and α-linolenic acid in high energy level groups. The results of proteomics showed that peripheral energy levels affected the catecholamine biosynthesis and metabolism in ovary before sexual maturation. The integrating analysis revealed that increased energy flux may influence ovarian development by regulating cholesterol reserves and steroid hormone synthesis in the ovaries. In vitro, the cultivation of chicken primary granulosa cells showed that sterol carrier protein 2 played a role in fatty acid synthesis and metabolism but did not significantly affect progesterone synthesis. Overall, dietary energy levels may be involved in the development of the ovaries during sexual maturation by influencing energy metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and steroid hormone within the ovaries.

ABSTRACT: The development and maturation of follicles are intricately linked to egg production and reproductive performance of chickens. Granulosa cells death directly affects the development and maturation of follicles, thereby impacting the reproductive performance of hens. Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death, it is unknown how it affects the growth and development of chicken follicles. In this study, RNA-seq analysis revealed significant differences in the expression of ferroptosis-related genes between normal follicles and atretic follicles, suggesting a potential role for ferroptosis in follicle growth and development. In addition, we found that ubiquitin-specific protease 13 (USP13) was significantly upregulated in atrophic follicles. Overexpression of USP13 results in depletion of glutathione (GSH), peroxidation of lipids, accumulation of iron, and activation of ferroptosis in chicken granulosa cells. In contrast, USP13 knockdown significantly inhibited ferroptosis events. Mechanistically, USP13 prevents the degradation of autophagy related 7 (ATG7) by deubiquitinating it, thereby enhancing the stability of ATG7 protein and ultimately promoting ferroptosis. In conclusion, this study elucidates the crucial role of the USP13-ATG7 axis in regulating ferroptosis in chicken follicle granulosa cells, thereby presenting a novel avenue for molecular breeding research in chickens.

Abstract Objective The clinical efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced liver cancer (ALC) were evaluated based on transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods 92 patients with ALC admitted to our hospital from May 2020 to August 2022 were randomly rolled into a control (Ctrl) group and an observation (Obs) group, with 46 patients in each. Patients in the Ctrl group received TACE treatment, while those in the Obs group received sorafenib molecular targeted therapy (SMTT) on the basis of the treatment strategy in the Ctrl group (400 mg/dose, twice daily, followed by a 4-week follow-up observation). Clinical efficacy, disease control rate (DCR), survival time (ST), immune indicators (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+), and adverse reactions (ARs) (including mild fatigue, liver pain, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), diarrhea, and fever) were compared for patients in different groups after different treatments. Results the DCR in the Obs group (90%) was greatly higher to that in the Ctrl group (78%), showing an obvious difference (P 0.05). After treatment, the Obs group exhibited better levels in all indicators. Furthermore, the incidence of ARs in the Obs group was lower and exhibited a sharp difference with that in the Ctrl group (P

The synergistic development of ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) is of utmost importance for the construction of sustainable development. In this study, we focus on the provinces of Qinghai and Tibet as our research area. To measure the value of ESs and HWB, we employ the per unit area value equivalence method and the Human Development Index method, respectively. Based on the feedback relationship between ESs and HWB, we establish a system dynamics model that considers economic, social, ecological, land use, and policy influencing factors. This model enables us to conduct multiscenario simulation predictions and system dynamics sensitivity analysis, aiming to explore the main factors driving the coupled relationship between ESs and HWB. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2020, the value of ESs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau generally increased, from 6049.49 billion CNY in 2010 to 6210.65 billion CNY in 2020, with generally higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest, and local high-high and high-low aggregation patterns. (2) From 2010 to 2020, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibited a continuous rise, from 0.19 in 2010 to 0.53 in 2020, indicating substantial development potential. (3) The system dynamics model established in this study demonstrates effectiveness with high fitting accuracy. From 2021 to 2050, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau displays an upward trend in all five scenarios, while the value of ESs shows a declining trend under the economic development priority scenario and an upward trend under the status quo, ecological protection priority, social development priority, and integrated development scenarios. Among these, the integrated development scenario proves optimal as it satisfies economic development needs, basic social security, and environmental protection requirements. (4) Grasslands, water areas, and environmental protection investment are identified as the main driving factors in the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB. And the influence of different driving factors will change dynamically with time. Our study can guide the search for the optimal development model for the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing a theoretical foundation for future development planning.

The development of offshore wind power is a crucial step in China’s energy transition and the achievement of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. This paper first introduces a wireless communication technology for independent networking. Its applicability in the field of relay protection is analyzed, and a security encryption scheme for its use in relay protection services is designed. Considering the primary wiring form and protection function configuration of offshore wind power, a multi-terminal wireless differential protection method suitable for offshore wind power collection lines is proposed, achieving synchronization error less than 3° and typical delay of wireless self-organizing network communication less than 12ms. Utilizing multi-terminal data synchronization technology and differential protection algorithms, a scheme for fault isolation and recovery of non-faulty wind turbines is established, thereby achieving minimal range isolation of offshore wind power collection line faults and precise fault section location. The action time of multi-terminal differential protection is less than 40ms. Finally, experimental results confirm that this technology’s various metrics satisfy the demands of engineering applications and hold promotional value, offering a reference for the practical application of wireless communication technology in offshore wind power collection line protection services.

The Chengkou mountain chicken, a native Chinese poultry breed, holds significant importance in the country’s poultry sector due to its delectable meat and robust stress tolerance. Muscle growth and development are pivotal characteristics in poultry breeding, with muscle fiber development during the embryonic period crucial for determining inherent muscle growth potential. Extensive evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a regulatory role in muscle growth and development. Among ncRNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs), characterized by a closed-loop structure, have been shown to modulate biological processes through the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs). This study seeks to identify and characterize the spatiotemporal-specific expression of circRNAs during embryonic muscle development in Chengkou mountain chicken, and to construct the potential regulatory network of circRNAs-miRNA-mRNAs. The muscle fibers of HE-stained sections became more distinct, and their boundaries were more defined over time. Subsequent RNA sequencing of 12 samples from four periods generated 9,904 novel circRNAs, including 917 differentially expressed circRNAs. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA)-identified circRNA source genes significantly enriched pathways related to cell fraction, cell growth, and muscle fiber growth regulation. Furthermore, a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network constructed using combined data of present and previous differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNA, and mRNA revealed that several circRNA transcripts regulate MYH1D, MYH1B, CAPZA1, and PERM1 proteins. These findings provide insight into the potential pathways and mechanisms through which circRNAs regulate embryonic muscle development in poultry, a theoretical support for trait improvement in domestic chickens.

The escalation of jellyfish stings has drawn attention to severe skin reactions, underscoring the necessity for novel treatments. This investigation assesses the potential of hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, specifically protocatechuic acid (PCA) and gentisic acid (DHB), for alleviating Nemopilema nomurai Nematocyst Venom (NnNV)-induced injuries. By employing an in vivo mouse model, the study delves into the therapeutic efficacy of these compounds. Through a combination of ELISA and Western blot analyses, histological examinations, and molecular assays, the study scrutinizes the inflammatory response, assesses skin damage and repair mechanisms, and investigates the compounds’ ability to counteract venom effects. Our findings indicate that PCA and DHB significantly mitigate inflammation by modulating critical cytokines and pathways, altering collagen ratios through topical application, and enhancing VEGF and bFGF levels. Furthermore, both compounds demonstrate potential in neutralizing NnNV toxicity by inhibiting metalloproteinases and phospholipase-A2, showcasing the viability of small-molecule compounds in managing toxin-induced injuries.

Abstract Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a new infectious disease first discovered in Ta-pieh Mountains in central China in 2009. It is caused by a novel bunyavirus infection (SFTSV). Since the first discovery of SFTSV, there have been case reports and epidemiological studies on SFTS in several East Asian countries, such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and so on. With the rising incidence of SFTS and the rapid spread of the novel bunyavirus around the world, it is clear that the virus has a pandemic potential and may pose a threat to global public health in the future. Early studies have suggested that ticks are an important medium for the transmission of SFTSV to humans; in recent years, it has been reported that there is also human-to-human transmission. In endemic areas, potential hosts include a variety of livestock and wildlife. When people are infected with SFTV, the main clinical manifestations are high fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms, liver and kidney function damage, and even MODS, with a mortality rate of about 10–30%. This article reviews the latest progress of novel bunyavirus, including virus transmission vector, virus genotypic diversity and epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation and treatment.

Abstract Background The egg production performance of chickens is affected by many factors, including genetics, nutrition and environmental conditions. These factors all play a role in egg production by affecting the development of follicles. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important non-coding RNAs that regulate biological processes by targeting genes or other non-coding RNAs after transcription. In the animal reproduction process, miRNA is known to affect the development and atresia of follicles by regulating apoptosis and autophagy of granulosa cells (GCs). Results In this study, we identified potential miRNAs in the atretic follicles of broody chickens and unatretic follicles of healthy chickens. We identified gga-miR-30a-5p in 50 differentially expressed miRNAs and found that gga-miR-30a-5p played a regulatory role in the development of chicken follicles. The function of miR-30a-5p was explored through the transfection test of miR-30a-5p inhibitor and miR-30a-5p mimics. In the study, we used qPCR, western blot and flow cytometry to detect granulosa cell apoptosis, autophagy and steroid hormone synthesis. Confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are used for the observation of autophagolysosomes. The levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected by ELISA. The results showed that miR-30a-5p showed a negative effect on autophagy and apoptosis of granulosa cells, and also contributed in steroid hormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, the results obtained from the biosynthesis and dual luciferase experiments showed that Beclin1 was the target gene of miR-30a-5p. The rescue experiment conducted further confirmed that Beclin1 belongs to the miR-30a-5p regulatory pathway. Conclusions In summary, after deep miRNA sequencing on healthy and atretic follicles, the results indicated that miR-30a-5p inhibits granulosa cell death by inhibiting Beclin1.

Landscape connectedness, ecosystem service value (ESV), and resident welfare are intricately interconnected, and understanding their relationships is crucial for promoting regional sustainable development. Utilizing six stages of land use data from 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 in Xining City, Qinghai Province, this study identified landscape connectedness changes by landscape pattern indices, calculated ecosystem service value by the equivalent factor method, and quantified residents’ well-being by comprehensive evaluation indices. To investigate the coupled and coordinated states among the three, a coupling coordination model is adopted. Furthermore, the relative development degree model is employed to reveal the relative developmental level of the three, clarify the lagging factors in their coupling coordination. The gray relational model is employed to identify key factors affecting the coupling mechanism. Key findings include the following: (1) The development trend of landscape types was moving toward diversification and balance, and the total value of ecosystem services has been declining. The comprehensive level of resident welfare has increased annually, but the structure has changed. (2) The coupling relationship among landscape connectedness, ecosystem service value, and resident welfare is strong and has remained at a high correlation level but has been in a state of discord. (3) The main constraint of the discord in the early stage was resident welfare, but the constraining factors in the later stage shifted to ecosystem services and landscape connectedness. The largest patch index and water resource supply were the key influencing factors in the system coupling mechanism. The research findings can provide a reference for the sustainable development of Xining City, regional land use policies, and ecological intervention planning.

Studies have shown that prebiotics can affect meat quality; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate whether prebiotics affect the flavor of chicken meat via the gut microbiome and metabolome. The gut content was collected from chickens fed with or without prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides or xylo-oligosaccharides) and subjected to microbiome and metabolome analyses, whereas transcriptome sequencing was performed using chicken breast. Prebiotic supplementation yielded a slight improvement that was not statistically significant in the growth and production performance of chickens. Moreover, treatment with prebiotics promoted fat synthesis and starch hydrolysis, thus increasing meat flavor by enhancing lipase and α-amylase activity in the blood of broiler chickens. The prebiotics altered the proportions of microbiota in the gut at different levels, especially microbiota in the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, such as members of the Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium genera. Furthermore, the prebiotics altered the content of cecal metabolites related to flavor substances, including 8 types of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) and 4 types of amino acid. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by prebiotics were significantly involved in fatty acid accumulation processes, such as lipolysis in adipocytes and the adipocytokine signaling pathway. Changes in gut microbiota were correlated with metabolites, for example, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were positively and negatively correlated with lysoPC, respectively. Finally, DEGs interacted with cecal metabolites, especially meat-flavor-related amino acids and their derivatives. The findings of this study integrated and incorporated associations among the gut microbiota, metabolites, and transcriptome, which suggests that prebiotics affect the flavor of chicken meat.

ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted the gut microbiota have a profound effect on the nutrition, health, and production in poultry. To deeply understand the gut microbiota composition with the dietary fiber level in broilers, we evaluated the cecal microbiota profiles feeding on different dietary fiber level with alfalfa as additive in Dahen broilers based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography. As a result, the gut microbiota diversity was greatly accelerated with the dietary fiber level. The dietary fiber stimulated the growth of many intestinal communities such as Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Faecalibacterium, Prevotellaceae UCG 001 and Ruminococcaceae UCG 014, and led to an altered microbial function such as Carbohydrate metabolism and Genetic information processing. Meanwhile, we found the genera Anaerofilum and Dielma were significantly correlated with the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). All these results provide a reference for the broilers gut microbiota changes with different dietary fiber level. The key role of the altered microbiota with the dietary fiber may mediate beneficial effects in broiler production, which also reflect the substantial potential of dietary fiber level in poultry.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density on productive performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity in laying ducks. A total of 720 20-week-old Jinding laying ducks were randomly assigned to 5 stocking densities (4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 birds/m2) with 8 replicate pens each treatment. The results showed that increasing stocking density linearly increased egg production and egg mass and linearly decreased FCR of laying ducks (P

ABSTRACT: Follicular atresia is an important cause of reproductive decline in egg-laying hens. Therefore, a better understanding of the regulation mechanism of follicle atresia in poultry is an important measure to maintain persistent high egg performance. However, how the role of the regulatory relationship between autophagy and apoptosis in the intrafollicular environment affects the follicular atresia of chickens is remain unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the regulatory molecular mechanisms in regard to follicular atresia. 20 white leghorn layers (32-wk-old) were equally divided into 2 groups. The control group was fed freely, and the experimental group induced follicular atretic by fasting for 5 d. The results showed that the expression of prolactin (PRL) levels was significantly higher in the fasted hens, while the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were lower. Most importantly, RNA sequencing, qPCR, and Western blotting detected significantly elevated levels of autophagy and apoptosis markers in atresia follicles. Interestingly, we found that fibromodulin (FMOD) levels was significantly lower in follicles from fasted hens and that this molecule had an important regulatory role in autophagy. FMOD silencing significantly promoted autophagy and apoptosis in granulosa cells, resulting in hormonal imbalance. FMOD was found to regulate autophagy via the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Our results suggest that the increase in autophagy and the imbalance in internal homeostasis cause granulosa cell apoptosis, leading to follicular atresia in the chicken ovary. This finding could provide further insight into broodiness in chicken and provide avenues for further improvements in poultry production.

Scyphozoan Nemopilema nomurai envenomation is an unresolved threat to human health in Asian waters. Nemopilema nomurai venom metalloproteinases show important toxicities in skin damage and inflammation, but there is still no purified protein for further studies. In this study, high proteinase activity fractions in tentacle autolysis were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow, and Superdex 75 chromatography successively. Purification was guided by azocasein hydrolysis activity and SDS-PAGE. The final products were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Four elution peaks purified by Superdex 75 chromatography had multiple protein bands but did not show proteinase activity. These fractions would recover proteinase activity after mixing again. Regulation mechanisms were speculated as binding metalloproteinase regulator or disaggregating metalloproteinase inhibitor by LC-MS/MS analysis. For the first time, a synergistic effect in N. nomurai proteinase activity was found in the purification process.

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism involved in embryonic muscle development and plays an important role in early muscle development. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of genome-wide DNA methylation by combining the expression profiles of the chicken embryonic muscle. Genome-wide DNA methylation maps and transcriptomes of muscle tissues collected from different embryonic development points (E7, E11, E17, and D1) were used for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing, respectively. We found that the differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were significantly associated with muscle organ development, regulation of skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation, and actin filament depolymerization. Furthermore, genes TBX1, MEF2D, SPEG, CFL2, and TWF2 were strongly correlated with the methylation-caused expression switch. Therefore, we chose the CFL2 gene to explore its function in skeletal muscle satellite cells, and the in vitro experiments showed that CFL2 acts as a negative regulator of chicken skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and can induce cell apoptosis. These results provide valuable data for future genome and epigenome studies of chicken skeletal muscle and may help reveal the molecular mechanisms of potential economic traits.

Indoor environmental control is usually applied in poultry farming to ensure optimum growth conditions for birds. However, these control methods represent a considerable share of total energy consumption, and the trend of applying new equipment in the future for precision livestock farming would further increase energy demand, resulting in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and management costs. Therefore, to ensure optimum efficiency of both energy use and livestock productivity, a customized hourly model was developed in the present study to interpret and analyze the electronically collected data. The modules for estimating indoor gas concentrations were incorporated into the present model, as this has not been properly considered in previous studies. A validation test was performed in a manure-belt layer house using sensors and meters to measure the indoor environmental parameters and energy consumption. The predicted results, including indoor temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and ammonia concentrations, showed good agreement with the measured data, indicating a similar overall trend with acceptable discrepancies. Moreover, the corresponding differences between the measured and simulated energy consumption for heating, tunnel ventilation and base ventilation were 13.7, 7.5, and 0.1%, respectively. The total energy demand estimated by the model showed a limited discrepancy of approximately 10.6% compared with that measured in reality. Although human factors, including inspection, cleaning, vaccination, etc., were not included in the model, the validation results still suggested that the customized model was able to accurately predict the indoor environment and overall energy consumption during poultry farming. The validated model provides a tool for poultry producers to optimize production planning and management strategies, increase the production rate of unit energy consumption and achieve precision livestock farming from an energy consumption standpoint.

As a ubiquitous heavy metal, cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to various organs. However, the effects and molecular mechanism of Cd toxicity in the chicken heart remain largely unknown. The goal of our study was to investigate the cardiac injury in chickens' exposure to Cd. We detected the levels of oxidative stress–related molecules in the Cd-induced chicken heart, and assessed the histopathological changes by hematoxylin and eosin staining. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed mRNAs between the Cd-induced group and control group. The expression of candidate genes involved in oxidative stress was certified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Our results showed that the expression of glutathione, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased and malondialdehyde was increased in the heart of chickens by Cd induction. The disorderly arranged cardiomyocytes, swelled and enlarged cells, partial cardiomyocyte necrosis, blurred morphological structure, and notable inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the Cd-induced chicken heart. RNA sequencing identified 23 upregulated and 11 downregulated mRNAs in the heart tissues of the chicken in the Cd-induced group, and functional pathways indicated that they were associated with oxidative stress. Moreover, CREM, DUSP8, and ITGA11 expressions were significantly reduced, whereas LAMA1 expression was induced in heart tissue of chickens by Cd treatment. Overall, our findings revealed that oxidative stress and pathological changes in the chicken heart could be triggered by Cd. The mRNA transcriptional profiles identified differentially expressed genes in the chicken heart by Cd induction, revealing oxidative stress–related key genes and enhancing our understanding of Cd toxicity in the chicken heart.

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exist widely and are involved in multiple biological processes in ducks, whereas the regulatory mechanism of miRNAs in egg laying of ducks has remained unclear. This study aims to reveal key miRNAs involved in the regulation of egg production in duck ovaries. Methods High-throughput sequencing was performed on four egg-type duck ovaries and four egg-meat-type duck ovaries at the start of the egg-laying stage. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) validation was performed on differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs). Gene network of DEmiRNA-mRNA-pathway was constructed by Cytoscape. Results A total of 251 know miRNAs and 1,972 novel miRNAs were obtained from whole clean reads. Among the known miRNAs, we identified 21 DEmiRNAs, including eight down-regulated and 13 up-regulated miRNAs in egg-type ducks compared with egg-meat-type ducks. Among the novel miRNAs, we identified 70 DEmiRNAs, including 58 down-regulated and 12 up-regulated in egg-type ducks compared with egg-meat-type ducks. The expression patterns of four miRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR. The DEmiRNAs were involved in the function of response to folic acid and the pathway of valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation. Specific target genes of DEmiRNAs enrichment was found in some egg-laying regulation pathways, such as dopaminergic synapse, ovarian steroidogenesis and oocyte meiosis. The DEmiRNA-mRNA-pathway network including three DEmiRNAs, nine mRNAs and 11 pathways. apl-miR-194-5p and apl-miR-215-5p may be potential key miRNAs in regulating egg laying. Conclusions This study provided miRNAs profiles in ducks about egg laying and establish a theoretical basis for subsequent selection or modification of duck phenotypes at the molecular level.

The main advantage of having livestock, for example, the laying hens, in a controlled environment is that the optimum growth conditions can be achieved with accuracy. The indoor air temperature, humidity, gases concentration, etc., would significantly affect the animal performance, thus should be maintained within an acceptable range. In order to achieve the goals of precision poultry farming, various models have been developed by researchers all over the world to estimate the hourly indoor environmental parameters so as to provide decision suggestions. However, a key parameter of hourly manure area in the poultry house was missing in the literature to predict the ammonia emission using the recently developed mechanistic model. Therefore, in order to fill the gap of the understanding of hourly manure coverage proportion and area on the manure belt, experimental measurements were performed in the present study using laying hens from 10 weeks age to 30 weeks age. For each test, six polypropylene (pp) plates were applied to collect the manure dropped by the birds every hour, and photographs of the plates were taken at the same time using a pre-fixed camera. Binary images were then produced based on the color pictures to determine the object coverage proportion. It was demonstrated that for laying hens of stocking density around 14 birds/m2, the manure coverage proportion at the 24th hour after the most recent manure removal was about 60%, while the value was approximately 82% at the 48th hour. Meanwhile, for laying hens at different ages, the hourly increment of manure coverage proportion showed a similar pattern with four distinct stages within 48 h. The statistical analyses demonstrated no significant correlation between the hourly increment of manure weight and the hourly increment of manure coverage proportion. Finally, prediction models for estimating the hourly manure coverage proportion on the manure belt in typical laying hen houses were provided.

Jellyfish stings are a common issue globally, particularly in coastal areas in the summer. Victims can suffer pain, itching, swelling, shock, and even death. Usually, hot water, vinegar, or alumen is used to treat the normal symptoms of a jellyfish sting. However, a specific antivenom may be an effective treatment to deal with severe jellyfish stings. Cyanea nozakii often reach a diameter of 60 cm and are responsible for hundreds of thousands of stings per year in coastal Chinese waters. However, there has been no specific C. nozakii antivenom until now, and so the development of this antivenom is very important. Herein, we collected C. nozakii antisera from tentacle extract venom immunized rabbits and purified the immunoglobulin (IgG) fraction antivenom (AntiCnTXs). Subsequently, two complete procedures to produce a refined F(ab’)2 type of antivenom (F(ab’)2-AntiCnTXs) and Fab type of antivenom (Fab-AntiCnTXs) by multiple optimizations and purification were established. The neutralization efficacy of these three types of antivenoms was compared and analyzed in vitro and in vivo, and the results showed that all types of antibodies displayed some neutralization effect on the lethality of C. nozakii venom toxins, with the neutralization efficacy as follows: F(ab’)2-AntiCnTXs ≥ AntiCnTXs > Fab-AntiCnTXs. This study describes the preparation of novel C. nozakii jellyfish antivenom preparations towards the goal of developing a new, effective treatment for jellyfish stings.

The aim of the study was to compere the effects of using air energy heat pump, flue heating and water heating as brood heating system on brood production of yellow-feathered broilers. In the experiment, three heating methods were used to heat chicks, and the parameters such as heating time, temperature uniformity, concentration of poisonous and harmful gases in the house, chick weight gain, mortality rate and production benefit were compered and analyzed. The results showed as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in NH3 and H2S concentration among the three groups (P > 0.05). The CO2 concentration in the flue group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in CO2 concentration between the other two groups (P >0.05). 2. The body weight of chickens in the flue group at 30 days of age was the lowest, which was significantly different from that in the other two groups (P < 0.01); The air energy heat pump group had significant difference with coal fired boiler group (P < 0.05), the uniformity and survival rate of flue group were the lowest, and the air energy heat pump group had the best; 3. The temperature rise of honeycomb flue was the slowest, the temperature distribution uniformity was the worst, and the cost was the highest; The heating rate of coal-fired boiler was faster than that of flue, and the temperature distribution uniformity was better, and the cost was lower. The heating rate of air energy heat pump was the fastest, and the temperature distribution uniformity was better, and the operating cost was the lowest. 4. The air energy heat pump group has higher investment in the early stage, better use effect, better production performance of brood, long service life and lower brood cost.

Tibetan chickens living at high altitudes show specific adaptations to high-altitude conditions, but the epigenetic modifications associated with these adaptations have not been characterized.We investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in Tibetan chicken blood by using whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Generally, Tibetan chickens exhibited analogous methylation patterns to that of lowland chickens. A total of 3.92% of genomic cytosines were methylcytosines and 51.22% of cytosines in CG contexts were methylated, which was less than those in lowland chicken (55.69%). Moreover, the base adjacent to the methylcytosines of mCHGs in Tibetan chickens had a preference for T, which was different from that in lowland chickens. In Tibetan chickens, the methylation levels in the promoter were relatively low, while the gene body was also maintained in a hypomethylated state. DNA methylation levels in regions upstream of the transcription start site of genes were negatively correlated with the level of gene expression, and DNA methylation of gene body regions was also negatively related to gene expression.We generated the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in Tibetan chickens and our results will be helpful for future epigenetic studies related to adaptations to high-altitude conditions.

Due to the increasing demand for producing chickens with high meat quality, there is a need to determine its mode of action on chicken meat quality traits across a wider age spectrum. In this study, five groups of 200 male Da-Heng meat type birds were reared until slaughter age of 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 days old and breast muscle performance, meat quality traits, and myofiber characteristics were evaluated. The larger body weight and breast weight of chicken are based on larger myofiber diameter and area, less myofiber density for the older birds than younger birds. There was an age effect on all meat quality traits of chicken breast muscle (p < 0.05). Older chickens often presented a higher pH, lower drip loss, higher shear force, darker, and redder breast meat. The correlation coefficients showed that myofiber characteristics played an important role in breast pH values, drip loss, and meat color (p < 0.05). Besides, significant correlations were also found between meat quality traits (p < 0.05). Further studies are needed to explore the biochemical character and potential molecular mechanism of chicken breast muscle to determine the factors that causes these age-related differences in meat quality in the current study.

The calpain system is ubiquitous in cells, mainly comprising calpains and calpain inhibitors, and is a widespread calcium-dependent cysteine protease in organisms that is involved in many cellular processes such as muscle degradation in vivo and affects the tenderness of meat after animal slaughter. The study found 128 DEGs that probably regulated tenderness traits were selected from 16 significantly enriched GO terms by transcriptome sequencing analysis, and found that the developmental changes in the expression levels of the CAPNI gene in the pectoral and leg muscles were significantly positively correlated (P<0.05) with the cumulative growth values of live weight and comb weight. The developmental changes in the expression levels of the CAST gene in the pectoral and leg muscles were not significantly correlated with the cumulative growth values of live weight and comb weight. Our results helped demonstrate the potential molecular mechanisms of tenderness in chickens and provide valuable information for chicken breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]