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In this study, we examined the effects of different residual feed intakes (RFIs) on nutrient digestibility and the microbiota of the digestive tract of Dexin fine-wool sheep. Fifty 70-day-old Dexin fine-wool meat lambs were selected as the experimental group and fed in a single pen for 100 days. Based on their mid-term metabolic weight, 100-day average daily weight gain and daily feed intake, the male Dexin lambs were divided into a low-RFI group (13), a mid-RFI group (18), and a high-RFI group (11). Six male Dexin lambs were selected from each group to collect feces, rumen digesta and solid digesta. Rectal feces were collected from three lambs in each group. The results showed that the digestibility of dry matter and crude protein by sheep in the L-RFI group was than that in the H-RFI group (P < 0.05). Within the microbial population, f_Anaerovoracaceae, g_Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, p_Proteobacteria, and g_Roseburia were significantly correlated with RFI. Energy metabolism, metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates, transport and catabolism, and cell migration pathways were upregulated in the L-RFI group. The differences in the microbiota of the digestive tract of sheep with different RFIs were reflected in the presence of some key bacterial genera rather than changes in the overall microbial diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Calliptamus italicus L. is a major pest in Xinjiang grassland. The diapause overwintering strategy is one of the important reasons for the large population of this pest. This study investigated the function of the genes associated with the release of diapause (DIB, JHE and CAM) in Calliptamus italicus by RNA interference (RNAi) technology to aid in its biological control. RESULTS: The expression levels of DIB and its downstream‐associated genes (EcR and FTZ‐F1) in the eggs injected with dsDIB for 12 h decreased by 96.6%, 55.8% and 81.8%, respectively. Diapause began to terminate on day 3, and development was almost complete on day 6. However, the head was significantly smaller. The expression levels of JHE and its downstream‐associated genes (JHEH and VgR) at 48 h after dsJHE treatment decreased by 76.5%, 85.6% and 85.9%, respectively. The termination of diapause occured on day 3 of incubation. The development was basically complete on day 6, but the yolk had been incompletely absorbed. The expression of CAM and its downstream‐associated genes (CAMK4 and MYL) at 24 h after dsCAM treatment decreased by 42.4%, 95.3% and 82.7%, respectively. Diapause termination was completed on day 4 for incubation, and development was abnormal on day 6. The absorption of yolk was incomplete. CONCLUSION: DIB, JHE and CAM can delay the diapause termination of Calliptamus italicus eggs to different degrees and can be developed as potential target genes for its biological control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of multicarbon (C2+) liquid fuels is a challenging task for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, mainly limited by the stabilization of reaction intermediates and their subsequent C−C couplings. In this work, we report a unique catalyst, the coordinatively unsaturated Cu sites on amorphous CuTi alloy (a‐CuTi@Cu) toward electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to multicarbon (C2‐4) liquid fuels. Remarkably, the electrocatalyst yields ethanol, acetone, and n‐butanol as major products with a total C2‐4 faradaic efficiency of about 49 % at −0.8 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which can be maintained for at least 3 months. Theoretical simulations and in situ characterization reveals that subsurface Ti atoms can increase the electron density of surface Cu sites and enhance the adsorption of *CO intermediate, which in turn reduces the energy barriers required for *CO dimerization and trimerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]