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The application of hyperspectral image (HSI) clustering has become widely used in the field of remote sensing. Traditional fuzzy K-means clustering methods often struggle with HSI data due to the significant levels of noise, consequently resulting in segmentation inaccuracies. To address this limitation, this letter introduces an innovative outlier indicator-based projection fuzzy K-means clustering (OIPFK) algorithm for clustering of HSI data, enhancing the efficacy and robustness of previous fuzzy K-means methodologies through a two-pronged strategy. Initially, an outlier indicator vector is constructed to identify noise and outliers by computing the distances between each data point in a reduced dimensional space. Subsequently, the OIPFK algorithm incorporates the fuzzy membership relationships between samples and clustering centers within this lower-dimensional framework, along with the integration of the outlier indicator vectors, to significantly mitigates the influence of noise and extraneous features. Moreover, an efficient iterative optimization algorithm is employed to address the optimization challenges inherent to OIPKM. Experimental results from three real-world hyperspectral image datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our proposed method.

The excessive deposition of abdominal fat tissue (AFT) in broilers has emerged as a major concern in the poultry industry. Despite some progress in recent years, the molecular mechanisms underlying AFT development remain ambiguous. The current study combined RNA-seq with transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) to map the dynamic profiling of chromatin accessibility and transcriptional reprogramming in AFT adipocyte differentiation in broilers at day 3 (D3) and D14. Our results found that the levels of CDK1 and PCNA were down-regulated at D14, D28, and D42 compared to D3, while the levels of C/EBPα and FABP4 were up-regulated at D14 and D42 compared to D3. Meanwhile, PPARγ was significantly up-regulated at D28 and D42. RNA-seq of AFT identified 1705 up-regulated and 1112 down-regulated differential expression genes (DEGs) between D3 and D14. Pathways based on up-regulated DEGs mainly enriched some pathways related to adipocyte differentiation, while down-regulated DEGs pointed to DNA replication, cell cycle, and gap junction. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that DNA replication and the cell cycle were down-regulated at D14, while the insulin signaling pathway was up-regulated. In the OA-induced immortalized chicken preadipocyte (ICP2) model, protein dynamic changes were consistent with AFT from D3 to D14. Same pathways were enriched in ICP2. In addition, based on overlapped DEGs from AFT and ICP2, enriched pathways related to adipocyte differentiation or proliferation mentioned above were all involved. A total of 1600 gain and 16727 loss differential peaks (DPs) were identified in ICP2 by ATAC-seq. Predicted genes from DPs at the promoter regions were enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism, TGF-β signaling, FoxO signaling, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. DNA motifs predicted 159 transcription factors (TFs) based on gain and loss peaks from the promoter regions, where 1 and 10 TFs were overlapped with up or down TFs from DEGs. Overall, this study presents a framework for the comprehension of the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation and identifies candidate genes and potential TFs involved in AFT adipocyte differentiation in broilers.

Most existing multi-view graph clustering models either seek consistent clustering results from similarity matrices and spectral embeddings respectively or follow direct bidirectional integration of them, which ignores the interaction between them. To make up for this flaw, this paper designs a novel multi-view clustering model that performs Bidirectional Fusion with Cross-view Graph Filter (BF-CGF). To be specific, BF-CGF first learns a consistent graph embedding via performing the interaction between multi-view graphs and spectral embeddings with the perspective of the graph spectral domain and then considers seeking a consistent indicator matrix via the graph cut model from the consistent graph embedding and the similarity matrices. To solve the optimization problem of BF-CGF, we propose an efficient iterative algorithm and provide the corresponding convergence and complexity analyses. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed BF-CGF outperforms state-of-the-art competitors in most benchmark datasets.

The Gamma Gaussian inverse Wishart (GGIW) extended target model leads to an elegant implementation of the Bayesian estimation for the extended target tracking. In this article, we proposed the distributed variational Bayesian measurement update for the GGIW implementation. First, a centralized multisensor measurement update algorithm for GGIW model was derived using variational Bayesian inference. Then, we proposed the distributed variational measurement update based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm. Furthermore, we introduced a regularization term representing a constraint of the prior information and the optimality of the estimation. We presented a heuristic solver which divided the formulated optimization problem into three subproblems and solved alternately in the framework of ADMM. The simulation results verify the effectiveness and show the comparable performance to that of the centralized algorithm with faster convergence.

FOXP2 was initially characterized as a transcription factor linked to speech and language disorders. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that Foxp2is enriched in the gonadotrope cluster of the pituitary gland and colocalized with the hormones LHB and FSHB in chickens and mice, implying that FOXP2 might be associated with reproduction in vertebrates. Herein, we investigated the roles of foxp2in reproduction in a Foxp2-deficient zebrafish model. The results indicated that the loss of Foxp2 inhibits courtship behavior in adult male zebrafish. Notably, Foxp2 deficiency disrupts gonad development, leading to retardation of follicle development and a decrease in oocytes in females at the full-growth stage, among other phenotypes. The transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) also revealed that differentially expressed genes clustered into the estrogen signaling and ovarian steroidogenesis-related signaling pathways. In addition, we found that Foxp2 deficiency could modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, especially the regulation of lhband fshbexpression, in zebrafish. In contrast, the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, a specific LH agonist, partially rescues Foxp2-impaired reproduction in zebrafish, suggesting that Foxp2 plays an important role in the regulation of reproduction via the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis in zebrafish. Thus, our findings reveal a new role for Foxp2 in the regulation of reproduction in vertebrates.FOXP2, initially associated with speech and language disorders, is discovered to play a crucial role in vertebrate reproduction, affecting courtship behavior, gonad development, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis in zebrafish, shedding light on its broader biological functions.

Background: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, both domestically and internationally. It has high incidence and mortality rates, posing a significant threat to human health. The levels of blood copper are elevated in patients with gastric cancer. However, the exact relationship between copper overload and the malignant phenotype of gastric cancer is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of the Cuproptosis-related factor FDX1 in the conversion of gastric cancer to a malignant phenotype.Methods: Firstly, the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of FDX1 in gastric cancer were detected. Secondly, lentiviral transfection of gastric cancer cell lines was performed, and the effects of FDX1 functional intervention on the proliferation, invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, EdU proliferation, cell scratch and Transwell assays. Thirdly, the differential alteration of genes after overexpression of FDX1 was also analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. Finally, we assessed the tumour-forming capacity in vivo by the xenograft model.Results: FDX1 is significantly upregulated in gastric cancer. The inhibition of FDX1 function results in the suppression of malignant phenotypic transformation in gastric cancer cells. Conversely, overexpression of FDX1 function leads to alterations in tumor-related signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment.Conclusion: FDX1 plays a significant role in the malignant phenotypic transformation of gastric cancer cells. Further investigation into the regulatory mechanism of FDX1 in the malignant transformation of gastric cancer will enhance our understanding of the involvement of Cuproptosis in gastric cancer.

Deciphering the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for understanding tumorigenesis and to design immunotherapies. In the present study, we mapped genetic effects on cell-type proportions using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data, identifying 3,494 immunity quantitative trait loci (immunQTLs) across 23 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Functional annotation revealed regulatory potential and we further assigned 1,668 genes that regulate TME composition. We constructed a combined immunQTL map by integrating data from European and Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) samples. A polygenic risk score that incorporates these immunQTLs and hits on a genome-wide association study outperformed in CRC risk stratification within 447,495 multiethnic individuals. Using large-scale population cohorts, we identified that the immunQTL rs1360948 is associated with CRC risk and prognosis. Mechanistically, the rs1360948-G-allele increases CCL2expression, recruiting regulatory T cells that can exert immunosuppressive effects on CRC progression. Blocking the CCL2–CCR2 axis enhanced anti-programmed cell death protein 1 ligand therapy. Finally, we have established a database (CancerlmmunityQTL2) to serve the research community and advance our understanding of immunogenomic interactions in cancer pathogenesis.

Learning from time series data in industrial scenarios enables the detection and classification of anomalies or faults in equipment and production processes. In industrial settings, variations in production equipment parameters or raw materials lead to changes in production operating conditions, resulting in the multi-operating condition characteristics of the data and placing higher requirements on anomaly detection models. This paper introduces domain adaptation and contrastive learning methods for multi-operating condition time series data, and designs an end-to-end model structure to enhance the performance of time series anomaly detection. The objective loss function incorporates the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) and contrastive loss functions. The proposed approach is validated and analyzed on a simulated dataset.

This paper is based on a previously developed bio-inspired Flapping Wing Aerial Vehicle (FWAV), RoboFalcon, which can fly with a morphing-coupled flapping pattern. In this paper, a simple flapping stroke control system based on Hall effect sensors is designed and applied, which is capable of assigning different up- and down-stroke speeds for the RoboFalcon platform to achieve an adjustable downstroke ratio. The aerodynamic and power characteristics of the morphing-coupled flapping pattern and the conventional flapping pattern with varying downstroke ratios are measured through a wind tunnel experiment, and the corresponding aerodynamic models are developed and analyzed by the nonlinear least squares method. The relatively low power consumption of the slow-downstroke mode of this vehicle is verified through outdoor flight tests. The results of wind tunnel experiments and flight tests indicate that increased downstroke duration can improve aerodynamic and power performance for the RoboFalcon platform.

Most flapping-wing aircraft wings use a single degree of freedom to generate lift and thrust by flapping up and down, while relying on the tail control surfaces to manage attitude. However, these aircraft have certain limitations, such as poor accuracy in attitude control and inadequate roll control capabilities. This paper presents a design for an active torsional mechanism at the wing's trailing edge, which enables differential variations in the pitch angle of the left and right wings during flapping. This simple mechanical form significantly enhances the aircraft's roll control capacity. The experimental verification of this mechanism was conducted in a wind tunnel using the RoboEagle flapping-wing aerial vehicle that we developed. The study investigated the effects of the control strategy on lift, thrust, and roll moment during flapping flight. Additionally, the impact of roll control on roll moment was examined under various wind speeds, flapping frequencies, angles of attack, and wing flexibility. Furthermore, several rolling maneuver flight tests were performed to evaluate the agility of RoboEagle, utilizing both the elevon control strategy and the new roll control strategy. The results demonstrated that the new roll control strategy effectively enhances the roll control capability, thereby improving the attitude control capabilities of the flapping-wing aircraft in complex wind field environments. This conclusion is supported by a comparison of the control time, maximum roll angle, average roll angular velocity, and other relevant parameters between the two control strategies under identical roll control input.

Intestinal microbiota, which contains bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses including bacteriophages, is symbiotic and evolves together with humans. The balanced intestinal microbiota plays indispensable roles in maintaining and regulating host metabolism and health. Dysbiosis has been associated with not only intestinal diseases but other diseases such as neurology disorders and cancers. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or faecal virome or bacteriophage transplantation (FVT or FBT), transfers faecal bacteria or viruses, with a focus on bacteriophage, from one healthy individual to another individual (normally unhealthy condition), and aims to restore the balanced gut microbiota and assist in subduing diseases. In this review, we summarized the applications of FMT and FVT in clinical settings, discussed the advantages and challenges of FMT and FVT currently and proposed several considerations prospectively. We further provided our understanding of why FMT and FVT have their limitations and raised the possible future development strategy of FMT and FVT.

As a computationally efficient framework, the random matrix approach can simultaneously estimate the kinematic state and extent of the extended target. For the extended target tracking in clutter, the measurement origin uncertainty, the unknown detection probability and measurement rate challenge the existing methods. In this article, we propose the Beta Gamma Gaussian inverse Wishart filter based on the variational approximation. The proposed method takes the association event as an unknown parameter with a prior distribution. Following a more rigorous path, we derive an approximate posterior distribution of the unknowns using the analytical techniques of variational Bayesian inference. The joint estimations of the kinematic state, extent, detection probability, measurement rate and association events are obtained in this work. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach.

It is urgent to explore an efficient treatment strategy to obtain characteristic microstructures for better mechanical properties of alloys in an era of energy shortage. Here, we investigated whether electropulsing treatment (EP-treatment) could efficiently manipulate the microstructural evolution of pre-deformed Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA. Under the condition of EP-treatment, the temperature required for complete static recrystallization of Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA is reached earlier at 590 °C. This temperature is significantly lower than the recrystallization temperature induced by conventional heat treatment. The preferred accumulation of dislocations at grain boundaries in EP-treated Al0.1CoCrFeNi HEA provides favorable conditions for the nucleation of static recrystallization. This is due to the increased vacancy concentration and defect mobility, which are activated by the additional driving force of the electromigration effect. Moreover, the enhanced dislocation mobility leads to an increased nucleation rate within a very short electrical pulse time, which consequently facilitates accelerated recrystallization at a lower temperature. In addition, the static recrystallization process was accompanied by the accelerated annihilation of dislocations and the decreased dislocation density, which is consistent with the results of the global GND density decreasing from 2.0 × 1013 m−2to 1.6 × 1013 m−2.

The recovery of organic solvents is important in the process of extracting nitrocellulose from waste propellants. Until now, the influence of diphenylamine from waste propellants on organic solvents has not been clear, which is a critical factor for their separation. In this paper, binary and ternary vapor–liquid equilibrium systems referring to mixtures containing diphenylamine, acetone, ethanol, and cyclohexane at 101.3 kPa were investigated systemically. The experimental results shows that diphenylamine increased the equilibrium temperature, decreased the relative volatility of organic solvents, and has a limited effect on the azeotropic composition for the systems of acetone + cyclohexane and ethanol + cyclohexane. In addition, a molecular dynamics analysis through GROMACS software was adopted to explore the interaction between diphenylamine and the above solvents, and the results show that the order of magnitude of the interaction force is: acetone is greater than ethanol and ethanol is greater than cyclohexane. This might be the main reason for the decreasing relative volatility of organic solvents.

Heat-induced stress has a significant impact on the health of broilers. It induces panting behavior and elevates oxygen consumption, leading to considerable strain on the broiler lungs. However, the precise effects of heat stress on lung injury, along with changes in the lung and gut microbiota, are not yet fully understood. In our study, Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were employed as a model to assess the efficacy of sodium butyrate (SB) in mitigating heat stress-induced lung injury, while concurrently exploring the potential role of lung and gut microbiota in this phenomenon. Heat stress negatively affected broilers, particularly leading to lung injury, which was alleviated by dietary supplementation with SB. However, antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of the microbiota diminished the protective effects of SB, highlighting the critical importance of gut microbiota homeostasis. Heat stress resulted in a reduction in lung microbial diversity and altered its composition, primarily due to the depletion of g_Clostridiaand the proliferation of g_Staphylococcus. SB supplementation helped restore beneficial microbes and improved their adaptation to heat stress. Heat stress induced comparable effects on the gut microbiota, resulting in a decline in p_Firmicutes and an elevation in p_Bacteroidetes. However, SB supplementation effectively modulated these alterations in the gut microbiota, promoting a more beneficial microbial profile. Our findings highlighted the significant contributions of both lung and gut microbiota in maintaining homeostasis during heat stress. Moreover, SB administration demonstrated its efficacy in mitigating heat stress-induced lung injury in broilers. This study provides critical insights for developing dietary strategies to reduce heat stress and promote broiler health.

Mitochondria are primary targets of deoxynivalenol (DON), which play a pivotal role in maintaining intestinal health. It has been suggested that Lactiplantibacillus plantarumJM113 (L. plantarumJM113) exhibits protective effects against the enterotoxicity of DON in broilers. However, the changes in mitochondrial homeostasis during this process remain unclear. A total of 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to 3 groups, including the CON group (fed a basal diet and gavaged with 0.5 mL PBS), the DON group (supplemented with 5 mg/kg DON based on the CON group) and the DJ group (fed a basal diet challenged with 5 mg/kg DON and gavaged with 1 × 109CFU L. plantarumJM113). The results showed that deoxynivalenol damaged mitochondrial morphology in the jejunum, characterized by swelling, vacuolation and cristae disruption, while L. plantarumJM113 reversed these alterations. Furthermore, the DON treatment significantly decreased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the jejunum compared with the CON group at both 7-day-old and 21-day-old, and T-AOC of the jejunum and jejunal mitochondria in the DJ group were notably increased at 21-day-old (P< 0.05). Compared to the DON group, the DJ group showed significantly upregulated expression of Mfn1, Mfn2, and Opa1involved in mitochondrial fusion, and significantly downregulated expression of Drp1and Fis1mediated mitochondrial fission at 21-day-old (P< 0.05). Dietary DON exposure also induced inhibition of genes linked to mitochondrial biogenesis at 21-day-old, such as NRF1, NRF2, TFAMand PGC-1α, while L. plantarumJM113 reversed this state (P< 0.05). Additionally, oral administration of L. plantarumJM113 significantly inhibited the overactivation of mitophagy related genes and proteins in the jejunum caused by DON (P< 0.05). Moreover, L. plantarumJM113 alleviated jejunal apoptosis in broilers exposed to DON, manifested by a significant decrease in mRNA and protein expression of Bax and CASP3 (P< 0.05). In summary, L. plantarumJM113 alleviated oxidative stress induced by DON, improved mitochondrial homeostasis, and ultimately prevented the occurrence of apoptosis.

Intensive selective breeding for high growth rate and body weight cause excess abdominal fat in broilers. Gut microbiota and folic acid were reported to regulate lipid metabolism. A total of 210 one-day-old broilers were divided into the control (folic acid at 1.3 mg/kg) and folic acid groups (folic acid at 13 mg/kg) to illustrate the effects of folic acid on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, and gut microbiota, and the experiment lasted 28 d. Results revealed that dietary folic acid addition decreased abdominal fat percentage (P < 0.05) and down-regulated genes expression related to cell proliferation and differentiation in abdominal fat including IGF1, EGF, C/EBPα, PPARγ, PLIN1, FABP4and PCNA(P < 0.05). Folic acid addition decreased caecal Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (P < 0.01) and increased the proportions of Alistipes, Oscillospira, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, Dehalobacteriumand Parabacteroides(P < 0.05). Caecal acetic acid, and propionic acid contents were found to be higher under folic acid treatment (P < 0.05), which were negatively related to genes expression associated with adipocyte proliferation and differentiation (P < 0.05). Ruminococcuswas positively correlated with caecal acetic acid content, and the same phenomenon was detected between propionic acid and Oscillospiraand Ruminococcus(P < 0.05). Acetic acid and Oscillospirawere identified to be negatively associated with abdominal fat percentage (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of folic acid reduced fat deposition in broilers by inhibiting abdominal adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, which might be mediated by changes in gut microbiota and short chain fatty acid production.

This study aimed to investigate the structural features and antioxidant activity in vitro of horse bone marrow protein (HBMP) hydrolysate based on the activity-originated approach. Antioxidant peptides were isolated from the HBMP with different enzymes. Then, the structural features of the obtained peptide were characterized by extensive chemical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic methods. Antioxidative properties were evaluated through the determination of free radicals scavenging activity. The results showed that alcalase was determined to be the most effective for the generation of antioxidant peptides, and the highest degree of hydrolysis (39.89%) and free radical scavenging activity (55.73%) were obtained under the condition of enzyme concentration 0.9%, pH 9.5, temperature 50℃, solid-liquid ratio 1:16 g/mL through optimized by response surface methodology. HBMP and its hydrolysates were rich in beneficial amino acids. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Circular dichroism (CD) revealed key functional structures of obtained peptides whereas Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) exhibited its characteristic morphology and elemental composition. The molecular weight distribution of the HBMP alcalase hydrolysate was 2189.014-11561.368 Da determined by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis. The antioxidant activity test showed that enzymatic hydrolysis can significantly enhance the activity of the HBMP (P< 0.05). The results indicated that HBMP exhibited significant antioxidant activity in vitro, supporting the potential application of HBMP as antioxidants in food processing, pharmaceuticals, and other industries.

To detect drug concentration in tacrolimus solution, an anchor planar millifluidic microwave (APMM) biosensor is proposed. The millifluidic system integrated with the sensor enables accurate and efficient detection while eliminating interference caused by the fluidity of the tacrolimus sample. Different concentrations (10–500 ng mL−1) of the tacrolimus analyte were introduced into the millifluidic channel, where it completely interacts with the radio frequency patch electromagnetic field, thereby effectively and sensitively modifying the resonant frequency and amplitude of the transmission coefficient. Experimental results indicate that the sensor has an extremely low limit of detection (LoD) of 0.12 pg mL−1and a frequency detection resolution (FDR) of 1.59 (MHz (ng mL−1)). The greater the FDR and the lower the LoD, the more the feasibility of a label-free biosensing method. Regression analysis revealed a strong linear correlation (R2= 0.992) between the concentration of tacrolimus and the frequency difference of the two resonant peaks of APMM. In addition, the difference in the reflection coefficient between the two formants was measured and calculated, and a strong linear correlation (R2= 0.998) was found between the difference and tacrolimus concentration. Five measurements were performed on each individual sample of tacrolimus to validate the biosensor's high repeatability. Consequently, the proposed biosensor is a potential candidate for the early detection of tacrolimus drug concentration levels in organ transplant recipients. This study presents a simple method for constructing microwave biosensors with high sensitivity and rapid response.

An efficient catalyst is crucial for the production of hydrogen through methanol reforming. However, the current study of catalysts for this reaction primarily relies on time-consuming and labor-intensive experimental methods. In this article, we propose a novel screening strategy called the Parameter-free Multi-view Clustering viaInteractive Graph Mining (PMC–IGM) model to identify highly active methanol-reforming catalysts. Our approach involves the design of a new element representation method and clustering model, which effectively integrate and utilize information from different aspects of elements. The model achieved a predictive accuracy (ACC) of 61% and a Rand index (RI) of 97%. Notably, the model successfully identified two methanol-reforming catalysts with promising results, validating the efficiency and rationality of the algorithm. This research holds great significance in accelerating the discovery of novel methanol-reforming catalysts.

Dietary nutrients and the gut microbiota are increasingly recognized to cross-regulate and entrain each other, and thus affect host health and immune-mediated diseases. Here, we systematically review the current understanding linking dietary nutrients to gut microbiota-host immune interactions, emphasizing how this axis might influence host immunity in health and diseases. Of relevance, we highlight that the implications of gut microbiota-targeted dietary intervention could be harnessed in orchestrating a spectrum of immune-associated diseases.

Phosphorus metabolism in laying hens is a highly dynamic process over the course of the 24 h egg-laying cycle. Adjusting the phosphorus feeding regimen according to the daily egg-laying cycle may help to improve phosphorus utilization efficiency. Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 120; 70 wk old) were offered 4 different phosphorus daily regimens: (1) RR, fed regular phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00; (2) RL, fed regular phosphorus at 09:00 and low phosphorus at 17:00; (3) LR, fed low phosphorus at 09:00 and regular phosphorus at 17:00; (4) LL, fed low phosphorus at both 09:00 and 17:00. The regular and low phosphorus diets contained 0.32% and 0.14% non-phytate phosphorus, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 12 wk. As a result, layers on the RL regimen had decreased laying rate (P < 0.05; 5 to 8, 9 to 12, and 1 to 12 wk) when compared to all other regimens. Layers on the LL regimen had decreased eggshell thickness and specific gravity (P < 0.05; wk 8) when compared to all other regimens, and had decreased egg shell strength (P < 0.05; wk 8) when compared to RL and LR regimens. When compared to the RR regimen (a common practice in the industry), layers on the LR regimen had: (1) identical laying performance and egg quality (P > 0.05); (2) decreased phosphorus excretion (P < 0.05) during the period of 09:00 to 17:00; (3) increased jejunal calbindin D28k protein expression (P < 0.05) 2 h after feeding in the morning; (4) decreased serum fibroblast growth factor 23 and calcitriol levels (P < 0.05), decreased jejunal type III sodium-phosphate cotransporter 2 gene and protein expression (P < 0.05), and decreased renal type III sodium-phosphate cotransporter 1 protein expression (P < 0.05), 2 h after feeding in the afternoon. In summary, when dietary phosphorus was supplemented in accordance with daily serum phosphorus rhythms (i.e., the LRregimen), laying performance and egg quality were well supported whilst significantly decreasing phosphorus consumption and excretion. Thus, serum phosphorus rhythms will need to be carefully maintained when developing dietary phosphorus-reduction strategies in laying hens.

The use of antibiotics in animal feeding has been banned in many countries because of increasing concerns about the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and potential issues on food safety. Searching for antibiotic substitutes is essential. Applying transgenerational epigenetic technology to animal production could be an alternative. Some environmental changes can be transferred to memory-like responses in the offspring through epigenetic mechanisms without changing the DNA sequence. In this paper, we reviewed those nutrients and non-nutritional additives that have transgenerational epigenetic effects, including some amino acids, vitamins, and polysaccharides. The paternal transgenerational nutritional epigenetic regulation was particularly focused on mechanism of the substantial contribution of male stud animals to the animal industries. We illustrated the effects of paternal transgenerational epigenetics on the metabolism and immunity in farming animals and proposed strategies to modulate male breeding livestock or poultry.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination causes the grievous injury in public and animal health, poultry suffer from the greater toxin challenge. Probiotic have been considered as a potential way to mitigate the deleterious effects of DON. In this study, a total of 144 1-day-old Arbor Acres chickens were randomly assigned into 3 groups: control group, DON group (5 mg/kg DON diet), DJ group (1×109cfu Lactiplantibacillus plantarumJM113/kg DON diet). The results showed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarumJM113 (L. plantarumJM113) increased the growth performance of 21-day-old broilers that challenged by the DON (P< 0.05), and the DON-induced disorder of jejunal morphology was recovered in DJ group (P< 0.05). Compared with the DON group, the mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and NQO-1 were upregulated in jejunum of DJ group broilers (P< 0.05). Meanwhile, administration of L. plantarumJM113 effectively increased the expression level of barrier-related genes, and the protein abundance of occludin and claudin1 (P< 0.05). L. plantarumJM113 restored the mRNA and protein abundance of PCNA, and proliferation-linked gene (Lgr5and Bmi1) expression levels in jejunum of DON-insulted broilers (P< 0.05). Furthermore, administration of L. plantarumJM113 significantly enhanced the relative abundance of s_Limosilactobacillus_reuteriin jejuna of DON-challenged broilers (P< 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that s_Limosilactobacillus_reuteriwas positively associated with the jejunal barrier related genes (P< 0.05). In conclusion, L. plantarumJM113 alleviated the toxic effects of DON by regulating the jejunal function through microbial adjustment. Our findings proposed a viable approach to mitigating the adverse effects of deoxynivalenol exposure in broilers.

AbstractThe delay-shift of the pre-pulse may mislead the determination of its origination and cause problems for the temporal contrast improvement of high-peak-power lasers, especially when the corresponding post-pulse is beyond the time window of the measurement device. In this work, an empirical formula is proposed to predict the delay-shift of pre-pulses for the first time. The empirical formula shows that the delay-shift is proportional to the square of the post-pulse’s initial delay, and also the ratio of the third-order dispersion to the group delay dispersion’s square, which intuitively reveals the main cause for the delay-shift and may provide a convenient routing for identifying the real sources of pre-pulses in both chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) and optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) systems. The empirical formula agrees well with the experimental results both in the CPA and the OPCPA systems. Besides, a numerical simulation is also carried out to further verify the empirical formula.

Oxidative stress is a frequent concern in the breeding of laying hens, and limit the healthy development of poultry. Dexamethasone (DXM) has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress. Conversely, betaine is an alkaloid with a potent antioxidant activity. The study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effect of betaine on DXM-induced oxidative stress in laying hens. The results revealed that DXM treatment significantly decreased laying rate, shell strength, albumen height, Haugh unit, egg weight, folk weight and albumen weight, alongside increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum and liver (P< 0.05). In contrast, dietary betaine addition reversed those parameters mentioned above (P< 0.05). Hepatic RNA-seq analysis showed that there existed 110 up- and 88 down-regulated genes in DXM group when compared with the control. Meanwhile there were 117 upregulation and 169 downregulation genes in BT group when compared with DXM group. Besides, we found that dietary betaine addition significantly down-regulated cell adhesion molecules, glycerolipid metabolism and glycolysis gluconeogenesis pathways. In addition, a total of 44 and 94 differential metabolites were identified respectively from Con vs. DXM and DXM vs BT. More importantly, dietary betaine addition significantly increased the levels of pantothenic acid, gamma-Aminobutyric acid, equol and choline, all of which were related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis indicated that the Chao and Observed_species indexes were remarkably higher in BT group (P<0.05). Heatmap analysis revealed that Subdoligranulum, Prevotella, Blautia, YRC22, Bacteroides, Ruminococcusand Coprococcuswere notably restored in BT group (P<0.05). Taken together, our findings collectively illustrate that dietary betaine addition could attenuate DXM-induced oxidative stress, improve egg quality and gut microbes of laying hens.

The hyperplasia and hypertrophy of preadipocytes were closely related to lipid deposition in animals. Butyric acid was reported to be involved in lipid metabolism. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of butyric acid on the proliferation and differentiation of the immortalized chicken preadipocyte 2 (ICP2). ICP2 were treated respectively with 12mM butyric acid for 48h in proliferation trial and 4mM butyric acid plus 200 μM oleic acid for 3 d in differentiation trial. For the proliferation trial, RNA-seq analysis revealed that 2039 genes were significantly up-regulated and 780 genes were significantly down-regulated with 12 mM butyric acid after 48 h treatment. Concurrently, Cell cycle, DNA replication and p53 signaling pathways were down-regulated in Butyric acid group. More importantly, 12 mM butyric acid restrained the expression of cell proliferation genes such as PCNA, CDK1 and CDK2 in Butyric acid group (P< 0.05), and the protein expression levels of PCNA and CDK1 were also significantly decreased (P< 0.05). The Oil red staining revealed a fewer presence of red fat droplets in ICP2 following treatment with 4 mM butyric acid, accompanied by decreased levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). RNA-seq analysis shown that the number of up and down-regulated genes were 2095 and 1042 respectively in OAB group (oleic acid+butyric acid) when compared with OA group (oleic acid). Meanwhile the AMPK signaling pathway, FOXO signaling pathway and focal adhesion were significantly enriched in OAB group. Additionally, 4 mM butyric acid inhibited the expression of lipid differentiation genes including FABP4, C/EBPα, PPARγ and LPL in OAB group (P< 0.05), as well as lipogenesis proteins such as FABP4, C/EBP-α and PPARγ (P< 0.05). In conclusion, 12 mM butyric acid effectively inhibited the proliferation of ICP2 by slowing down cell cycle progression, while 4 mM butyric acid alleviated lipid deposition by reducing the production of lipid droplets through inhibiting the expression of lipid differentiation marker genes and proteins.

Oral antibody to interleukin-10 (anti-IL-10) enhances the intestinal immune defense against Eimeria. The sulfur amino acids methionine and cysteine (M+C) play essential roles in inducing and maintaining protective immune responses during intestinal infections. Hence, increased dietary M+C may support the anti-IL-10-induced intestinal immunity to Eimeria. Broilers (n = 640) were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of each of the 3 main factors: dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) M+C levels (0.6% or 0.8%), dietary anti-IL-10 supplementation (with or without), and coccidiosis challenge (control or challenge). Briefly, the broilers were supplied with either 0.6% or 0.8% SID M+C, each with or without anti-IL-10 (300 μg/kg), from d 10 to 21. On d 14, broilers from each diet were gavaged with either PBS or Eimeria. The resulting Eimeriainfection induced fecal oocyst shedding and intestinal lesions. Broilers fed 0.8% SID M+C (main effects, P ≤ 0.05) had decreased feed-to-gain ratio, increased duodenum and cecum luminal anti-EimeriaIgA titers, and decreased fecal oocyst counts, when compared to 0.6% SID M+C. The supplementation of anti-IL-10 (main effects, P ≤ 0.05) increased cecum luminal total IgA concentration and decreased cecum lesions. Interactions (P ≤ 0.05) were detected for growth performance and cecum luminal IFN-γ. Briefly, the highest body weight gain and feed intake were reached in PBS-gavaged broilers fed 0.8% SID M+C with no anti-IL-10 and in Eimeria-challenged broilers fed 0.8% SID M+C with anti-IL-10. In Eimeria-infected broilers, anti-IL-10 increased intestinal luminal IFN-γ and body weight gain only at 0.8% SID M+C. Collectively, anti-IL-10 increased intestinal luminal IFN-γ levels, decreased cecum lesions and restored growth only when fed with adequate amounts of sulfur amino acids. Our findings underscore the importance of providing sufficient essential nutrients to support the anti-IL-10 induced immunity against coccidiosis.