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Simple Summary: This study investigates the use of Chongming goats for optimizing laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Key metrics such as the recovery rate of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), the number of ovarian follicles, and the quality of collected COCs are assessed to refine estrus synchronization and superovulation techniques. Additionally, the study examines the effectiveness of LOPU using indicators like cleavage and blastocyst rates to enhance IVEP efficiency, aiming to develop a robust LOPU technology system for small ruminants. The application of laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and in vitro production of embryos (IVEP) technologies has opened up a new path for purebred breeding and breed improvement in goats. However, due to the complexity of the procedures and multiple influencing factors, these technologies have not been widely adopted in goat production. This study explores factors affecting the efficiency of LOPU in goats by comparing the use of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) for estrus synchronization, conventional FSH versus long-acting recombinant ovine FSH (R-FSH) for superovulation, and the timing of LOPU at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h of follicular development. The metrics evaluated included the recovery rate of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), the average number of ovarian follicles, the average number of COCs, and the average number of available COCs. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of LOPU was significantly higher with two doses of R-FSH compared to the conventional FSH superovulation protocol and the control group (p < 0.05), with two doses of R-FSH providing a higher LOPU efficiency than one dose (p < 0.05). Using CIDR for estrus synchronization showed no significant difference in LOPU efficiency compared to the non-CIDR group. Similarly, the efficiency of LOPU showed no significant difference between the hormone treatments at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h. By exploring and optimizing the factors influencing LOPU, we ultimately established a LOPU technology system for goats that meets the production needs of small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China possesses abundant wild germplasm resources and a wide range of cultivated strains of Stropharia rugosoannulata. However, issues such as genetic diversity and unclear genetic relationships have had an impact on the classification and preservation of germplasm resources, the breeding of new varieties, and the promotion of superior strains. There is an urgent need for genetic diversity analysis and assessment of germplasm resources. In this study, we conducted whole-genome resequencing of 50 cultivated and wild strains collected from various regions across the country. After applying a series of filtering parameters, we obtained 888,536 high-quality Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. Using these SNP markers, we performed principal component analysis, population structure analysis, and phylogenetic clusters analysis on the 50 strains. Most cultivated strains exhibited high genetic similarity, while significant genetic diversity was observed among wild strains. Based on factors such as marker distribution throughout the entire genome and marker quality, we selected 358 core SNP markers to construct SNP fingerprints. Two-dimensional barcodes were generated for each strain to enable specific identification. Additionally, the mycelial growth rate of strains was evaluated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and substrate culture media. We also assessed their lignin degradation capability using guaiacol agar plates assay. It was observed that the mycelial growth rate on PDA and substrate culture medium exhibited a significant correlation with the diameter of the mycelial colony on guaiacol agar medium. Additionally, the correlation between the mycelial growth rate on the substrate medium and that on the guaiacol agar plate was stronger than that on PDA medium. This study provided molecular-level identification and assessment of germplasm resources. It clarified the genetic relationships among strains and the characteristics of mycelium growth-related agronomic traits of each strain. This research contributed to the enrichment and development of utilizable germplasm resources and breeding materials for S. rugosoannulata, offering a scientific basis for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic hierarchy index, economic linkage model, and economic membership model are used to study the economic hierarchy, linkage, and direction of Northeast China and Russian Far East from 2005 to 2020, using the three northeastern provinces of China and 11 Far East federal subjects of Russia as the research objects. The findings are as follows: (1) There is a major polarization effect between developed affluent economic regions and stagnant isolated backward regions in the economic rankings in the 11 Russian Far East federal subjects from 2005 to 2020. (2) The three northeastern provinces of China have more economic linkages with their near Russian neighbors— the east‐oriented Primorsky Territory, the north‐oriented Amur Region, and the north‐oriented Khabarovsk Territory, than with their farther neighbors— the Chukotka Autonomous Area, Magadan Region, and Kamchatka Territory. (3) From 2005 to 2020, the Primorsky Territory has been serving as the focal point of economic linkages between Russian Far East and Northeast China, showing the expanding outward pattern resembling the concentric circles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most cultivated edible mushrooms worldwide, of which the fruiting body development is a highly complex process involving the precise genetic regulatory network and suitable environmental factors. Metacaspases play important roles in developmental processes and programmed cell death (PCD) induced by some environmental stress in many organisms. In this study, a type I metacaspase, PoMCA1, was identified via the analysis of the enzyme domain and alignment with homologous metacaspases. PoMCA1 overexpression and RNAi mutants were generated via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) into the P. ostreatus mycelium. The roles of the PoMCA1 gene in heat stress and fruiting body development were examined. The results show that both of the overexpression transformants were more tolerant to heat stress than the wild-type strain, while the opposite phenomenons were found for the two RNAi strains. Compared with the wild-type strain, the overexpression strain OE-7 had faster formation of the fruiting body, while the two RNAi strains produced significantly more primordia and young fruiting bodies, and presented morphological deformities and slower fruiting body development. All of the results suggest that the PoMCA1 gene is involved in the positive regulation of heat stress tolerance and fruiting body development in P. ostreatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the spatial and temporal evolution of land use change and habitat quality is of great significance to the ecological protection and high-quality development of the three northeastern provinces. This paper selects the land use and cover data of the three northeastern provinces in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, and uses ArcGIS and InVEST models to quantitatively analyze the spatial and temporal changes of land use and habitat quality in the three northeastern provinces from 2010 to 2018 according to the classification of"ecological-production-living"land use function. The results show that there are significant differences in the spatial distribution pattern of the three northeastern provinces from 2000 to 2018. The land use types have changed significantly, among which the increase of agricultural production land is the most obvious, reaching 10 604.28 km2, and the most obvious reduction of land use area is forestry ecological land, with a total reduction of 19 400.4 km2. From 2000 to 2018, the habitat quality level of the three northeastern provinces showed a downward trend on the whole, and the area of low-level habitat quality continued to expand, with an increase of 19 369 km2. The area with medi um habitat quality is also expanding, and its area has increased by 20 807 km2. The areas with good habitat quality and excellent habitat quality decreased by 19 991 km2 and 10 185 km2 respectively. The spatial distribution of habitat quality is closely related to the distribution of land use types. Areas with high habitat quality are mostly distributed in areas where woodland ecological space and grassland ecological space are widely distributed, while areas with low habitat quality tend to have a higher proportion of living space and production space than ecological space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic and nanoscopic current-voltage measurements indicated asymmetries in the DC electrical conductivity through Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers and even monolayers of gamma-(n-hexadecyl)quinolium tricyanoquinodeimethanide, C16H33Q-3CNQ (5). These assymetries are caused by a transition of the ground-state zwitterion to an excited-state conformer which is probably neutral. Unimolecular electrical rectification by monolayers of 5 was definitely ascertained.