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Feather pecking (FP) is a significant welfare concern in poultry, which can result in reduced egg production, deterioration of feather condition, and an increase in mortality rate. This can harm the health of birds and the economic benefits of breeders. FP, as a complex trait, is regulated by multiple factors, and so far, no one has been able to elucidate its exact mechanism. In order to delve deeper into the genetic mechanism of FP, we acquired the expression matrix of dataset GSE36559. We analyzed the gene modules associated with the trait through WGCNA (Weighted correlation network analysis), and then used KEGG and GO to identify the biological pathways enriched by the modules using KEGG and GO. Subsequently, we analyzed the module with the highest correlation (0.99) using three machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify the feature genes that they collectively recognized. In this study, five feature genes, NUFIP2, ST14, OVM, GLULD1, and LOC424943, were identified. Finally, the discriminant value of the feature genes was evaluated by manipulating the receiver operating curve (ROC) in the external dataset GSE10380. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anammox is known as a cost-effective approach to nitrogen removal from ammonium-rich wastewater. However, the eco-physiological characteristics of anammox population have not well been understood so far, which has obstructed the practical application of anammox process. In the present research work, an enrichment culture of anammox population was collected from an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor, and the anammox activity was evaluated by various pH, temperature and reactant density, progressively. The results showed that the optimal ecological amplitude of pH and temperature for the anammox population was ranged from 7.0-7.5 and 30°C-35°C, respectively. To make anammox process more efficient, the density of NH4+-N and NO2−-N should be around 10.0 and 4.0 mmol·L−1, respectively. It was found that anammox population was more sensitive to NO2−-N density than NH4+-N density, and then NO2−-N density was proposed as a key indicator to practicing anammox process in engineering. With the findings, the present research will be significant in practicing annamox process.