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Abstract Increasing the molecular weight while maintaining mono-dispersity has been proved crucial in innovating high-performance photovoltaic materials in giant oligomeric acceptors. However, developing efficient giant oligomeric donors to replace the batch-varied polymers remains challenging due to a lack of design principles. Here, by designing two unique isomeric rhodanine-based linkers, we successfully regulate the assembly behaviors of giant dimeric donors (G-Dimer-Ds) and fabricate the first all-giant-oligomer OSCs pairing with giant dimeric acceptor DY. Multiple characterizations demonstrate the small homo-molecular interaction with strong thermal-driven assembly capability in G-Dimer-D2 simultaneously facilitates reducing energetic disorder, improving charge transport and obtaining stable morphology, resulting in a satisfactory efficiency of 15.70% and long-term photostability with an extrapolated T 80 of ca.10,000 hours, and further enhancing thermal-driven assembly promotes efficiency of 16.05%. Our results provide construction approaches on efficient giant donors, and propose a promising type of OSC with completely definite structures, high efficiency and superior stability.

Abstract Thallium, a highly toxic pollutant, shows greater toxicity to human than other common heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and its effective removal from wastewater gains great attention. The main restriction for the Tl+ removal is the interference of a high concentration of co-existing ions in wastewater. Therefore, the goal of the current work was to synthesis adsorbent with high selectivity for the Tl+ removal. Herein, the pore size sieving strategy was proposed and Prussian blue-impregnated biochar (BC@PB) particles was synthesized. More than 95% Tl+ can be removed even the concentrations of the coexistence ions (Na+, Cd2+, and Zn2+) 1,000 higher than the initial concentration of Tl+ (500 μg/L). BC@PB also showed large adsorption capacity (9365 μg/g) and more than 99% Tl+ (initial concentration, 500 μg/L) were removed in just 1 min. The BC@PB had excellent and stable Tl+ removal ability (> 99%) over a range of pH from 3 to 9, which covered the pH range of common thallium-containing wastewater. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation confirmed that not only hydrated volume but also the hydration free energy of ions, which governed the energy barrier for ions entering into narrow channels of BC@PB, played essential roles on the selectivity removal of Tl+. Overall, due to its high selectivity, high adsorption capacity and easy preparation process, the synthesized BC@PB particles based on the pore sizing sieving strategy, can be a promising candidate for the removal of thallium from wastewater.

Abstract Studying the relationships between vegetation cover and geography in the Mongolian region of the Yellow River Basin will help to optimize local vegetation recovery strategies and achieve harmonious human relations. Based on MOD13Q1 data, the spatial and temporal variations in fractional vegetation cover (FVC) in the Mongolian Yellow River Basin during 2000–2020 were investigated via trend and correlative analysis. The results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the vegetation cover in the Mongolian section of the Yellow River Basin recovered well, the mean increase in the FVC was 0.001/a, the distribution of vegetation showed high coverage in the southeast and low coverage in the northwest, and 31.19% of the total area showed an extremely significant and significant increase in vegetation cover. (2) The explanatory power of each geographic factor significantly differed. Precipitation, soil type, air temperature, land use type and slope were the main driving factors influencing the spatial distribution of the vegetation cover, and for each factor, the explanatory power of its interaction with other factors was greater than that of the single factor. (3) The correlation coefficients between FVC and temperature and precipitation are mainly positive. The mean value of the FVC and its variation trend are characterized by differences in terrain and soil characteristics, population density and land use. Land use conversion can reflect the characteristics of human activities, and positive effects, such as returning farmland to forest and grassland and afforestation of unused land, promote the significant improvement of regional vegetation, while negative effects, such as urban expansion, inhibit the growth of vegetation.

ABSTRACT: Spermatogenesis is a crucial indicator of geese reproduction performance and production. The testis is the main organ responsible for sperm production, and the egg-laying cycle in geese is a complex physiological process that demands precise orchestration of hormonal cues and cellular events within the testes, however, the seasonal changes in the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of goose testicles remain unclear. To explore various aspects of the mechanisms of the seasonal cyclicity of testicles in different goose breeds, in this study, we used an integrative transcriptomic and proteomic approach to screen the key genes and proteins in the testes of 2 goose males, the Hungarian white goose and the Wanxi white goose, at 3 different periods of the laying cycle: beginning of laying cycle (BLC), peak of laying cycle (PLC), and end of laying cycle (ELC). The results showed that a total of 9,273 differentially expressed genes and 4,543 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the geese testicles among the comparison groups. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that the DEGs, in the comparison groups, were mainly enrichment in metabolic pathways, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cyctokine-cyctokine receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, apelin signaling pathway, ether lipid metabolism, cysteine, and methionine metabolism. While the DEPs, in the 3 comparison groups, were mainly involved in the ribosome, metabolic pathways, carbon metabolism, proteasome, endocytosis, lysosome, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, oxidative phosphorylation, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and tight junction. The protein-protein interaction network analysis (PPI) indicated that selected DEPs, such as CHD1L, RAB18, FANCM, TAF5, TSC1/2, PHLDB2, DNAJA2, NCOA5, DEPTOR, TJP1, and RAPGEF2, were highly associated with male reproductive regulation. Further, the expression trends of 4 identified DEGs were validated by qRT-PCR. In conclusion, this work offers a new perspective on comprehending the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in the seasonal cyclicity of testicles in the Hungarian white goose and the Wanxi white goose, as well as contributing to improving goose reproductive performance.

Lysozyme like 4 (LYZL4), lysozyme like 6 (LYZL6) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) are implicated in the regulation of testicular function, but there was no research reported available on the expression patterns of LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA genes at different developmental stages of yak testes. In this study, we used the qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry estimated the LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA gene expression and protein lo-calization at different developmental stages of yak testes. The qPCR results showed that the mRNA expression of LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA genes significantly increased with age in the testes of yaks. Western blot results showed that the protein abundance of LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA in yak testes was significantly higher after puberty than before puberty. Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemistry indicated that LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA may be involved in the regulation of spermatogonia proliferation and Leydig cell function in immature testis. In adult yak testes, LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA may involve in the development of round spermatids and primary spermatocytes during testicular development. Our results indicated that LYZL4, LYZL6 and PCNA may be involved in the development of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and gonocytes in yak testes.

Abstract Background There is no consensus as to the origin of the domestic yak (Bos grunniens). Previous studies on yak mitochondria mainly focused on mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop), a region with low phylogenetic resolution. Here, we analyzed the entire mitochondrial genomes of 509 yaks to obtain greater phylogenetic resolution and a comprehensive picture of geographical diversity. Results A total of 278 haplotypes were defined in 509 yaks from 21 yak breeds. Among them, 28 haplotypes were shared by different varieties, and 250 haplotypes were unique to specific varieties. The overall haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of yak were 0.979 ± 0.0039 and 0.00237 ± 0.00076, respectively. Phylogenetic tree and network analysis showed that yak had three highly differentiated genetic branches with high support rate. The differentiation time of clades I and II were about 0.4328 Ma, and the differentiation time of clades (I and II) and III were 0.5654 Ma. Yushu yak is shared by all haplogroups. Most (94.70%) of the genetic variation occurred within populations, and only 5.30% of the genetic variation occurred between populations. The classification showed that yaks and wild yaks were first clustered together, and yaks were clustered with American bison as a whole. Altitude had the highest impact on the distribution of yaks. Conclusions Yaks have high genetic diversity and yak populations have experienced population expansion and lack obvious phylogeographic structure. During the glacial period, yaks had at least three or more glacial refugia.

A new method for the synthesis of heterocyclic systems containing tetrazole and tetrahydroisoquinoline is developed via the performance of one-pot Ugi-azide and Heck cyclization reactions. The integration of the multicomponent and post-condensation reactions in one-pot maximizes the pot-, atom-, and step-economy (PASE).

Abstract Silver sulfide thin film, with excellent thermoelectric properties, is few reported due to the complex and time‐consuming high‐temperature or high‐pressure synthesis process. Here, a fast ionic conductor n‐type Ag2S film with good crystallinity and uniform density is prepared by sputtering metal Ag films of different thicknesses on glass and then reacting in S precursor solution at low temperature. At 450 K, β‐Ag2S films can be obtained and underwent a phase transition from α‐Ag2S monoclinic, which had a significant effect on their electrical and thermal properties. The grain size of Ag2S films increases with the increase of film thickness. Before and after the phase transition, the carrier concentration and mobility cause obvious changes in the electrical properties of Ag2S. The carrier concentration of body‐centered cubic phase β‐Ag2S is about three orders of magnitude higher than that of monoclinic phase α‐Ag2S, and the mobility is also 2–3 times that of the latter. Especially, after the phase transition, the conductivity of β‐Ag2S rises exponentially from the zero conductivity of α‐Ag2S and increases with the increase of temperature. The Ag2S film shows the highest figure of merit of 0.83 ± 0.30 at 600 K from the sample with ∼1600 nm thickness, which is the highest record among Ag2S‐based thermoelectric materials reported so far.

Abstract Wide‐bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs) toward tandem photovoltaic applications are confronted with the challenge of device thermal stability, which motivates to figure out a thorough cognition of wide‐bandgap PSCs under thermal stress, using in situ atomic‐resolved transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tools combing with photovoltaic performance characterizations of these devices. The in situ dynamic process of morphology‐dependent defects formation at initial thermal stage and their proliferations in perovskites as the temperature increased are captured. Meanwhile, considerable iodine enables to diffuse into the hole‐transport‐layer along the damaged perovskite surface, which significantly degrade device performance and stability. With more intense thermal treatment, atomistic phase transition reveals the perovskite transform to PbI2 along the topo‐coherent interface of PbI2/perovskite. In conjunction with density functional theory calculations, a mutual inducement mechanism of perovskite surface damage and iodide diffusion is proposed to account for the structure‐property nexus of wide‐bandgap PSCs under thermal stress. The entire interpretation also guided to develop a thermal‐stable monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell.

BackgroundLarge Hemispheric Infarction (LHI) poses significant mortality and morbidity risks, necessitating predictive models for in-hospital mortality. Previous studies have explored LHI progression to malignant cerebral edema (MCE) but have not comprehensively addressed in-hospital mortality risk, especially in non-decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) patients.MethodsDemographic, clinical, risk factor, and laboratory data were gathered. The population was randomly divided into Development and Validation Groups at a 3:1 ratio, with no statistically significant differences observed. Variable selection utilized the Bonferroni-corrected Boruta technique (p

Disulfidptosis, a regulated form of cell death, has been recently reported in cancers characterized by high SLC7A11 expression, including invasive breast carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its role in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has been infrequently discussed. In this study, we developed and validated a prognostic model based on 20 disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) using LASSO and Cox regression analyses. The robustness and practicality of this model were assessed via a nomogram. Subsequent correlation and enrichment analysis revealed a relationship between the risk score, several critical cancer-related biological processes, immune cell infiltration, and the expression of oncogenes and cell senescence-related genes. POU4F1, a significant component of our model, might function as an oncogene due to its upregulation in COAD tumors and its positive correlation with oncogene expression. In vitro assays demonstrated that POU4F1 knockdown noticeably decreased cell proliferation and migration but increased cell senescence in COAD cells. We further investigated the regulatory role of the DRG in disulfidptosis by culturing cells in a glucose-deprived medium. In summary, our research revealed and confirmed a DRG-based risk prediction model for COAD patients and verified the role of POU4F1 in promoting cell proliferation, migration, and disulfidptosis.

Abstract Background Yaks (Bos grunniens), prized for their ability to thrive in high-altitude environments, are indispensable livestock in the plateau region. Modifying their feeding systems holds significant promise for improving their growth and meat quality. Tenderness, a key determinant of yak meat quality and consumer appeal, is demonstrably influenced by dietary regimen. Indoor feeding regimes have been shown to enhance tenderness by lowering shear stress and optimizing pH values. CircRNAs, well-known modulators of circulatory function, also play a crucial role in skeletal muscle development across various animal species. However, their functional significance in yak skeletal muscle remains largely unexplored. Results In this study, we identified a total of 5,534 circRNAs within the longissimus dorsi muscle, and we found 51 differentially expressed circRNAs (20 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated) between the two feeding groups. Constructing a comprehensive ceRNA network illuminated intricate regulatory mechanisms, with PGP and circRNA_0617 converging on bta-miR-2285q, mirrored by KLF15/circRNA_0345/bta-miR-20b and CTSF/circRNA_0348/bta-miR-146a. These findings shed light on the potential of circRNAs to influence yak muscle development and meat quality, offering valuable insights for future research. Conclusions This investigation unraveled a complex interaction network between circRNAs、mRNAs and miRNAs in yak skeletal muscle. We further elucidated the target genes regulated by these target genes within the network, offering valuable insights into the potential regulatory mechanisms governing muscle development and meat quality-related traits in yaks.

Background/Objectives: Static reference intervals (RIs) fail to capture the dynamic changes in bioanalytes. This study aimed to develop gender-based continuous age- and season-related RIs for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) using real-world data and to compare them with partitioned RIs. Methods: The NSE results from 4097 individuals were included after rigorous screening. Partitioned RIs were determined using the Hoffmann method. Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) were selected to develop continuous RIs. Results: The partitioned RIs are as follows: Conclusions: We developed gender-based continuous age- and season-integrated RIs for NSE in North China, highlighting the variation in NSE levels in females with age and season. Compared to static RIs, continuous RIs are more responsive to NSE, potentially enhancing the precision and individualization of health assessments.

This study explored the polymorphism of the leucine aminopeptidase (LAP3) gene and its relationship with milk quality characteristics in Gannan yak. A cohort of 162 Gannan yak was genotyped utilizing the Illumina Yak cGPS 7K BeadChip, and the identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated for their association with milk protein, casein, lactose, and fat concentrations. The results showed that four SNPs (g.4494G > A, g.5919A > G, g.8033G > C, and g.15,615A > G) in the LAP3 gene exhibited polymorphism with information content values of 0.267, 0.267, 0.293, and 0.114, respectively. All four SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). The g.4494G > A and g.5919A > G SNPs were significantly associated with protein content (p < 0.05), with homozygous genotypes showing significantly higher protein content than heterozygous genotypes (p < 0.05). The g.8033G > C SNP was significantly associated with casein content, protein content, non-fat solids, and acidity (p < 0.05), with the CC genotype having significantly higher casein, protein, and non-fat solids content than the GG and GC genotypes (p < 0.05). The g.15,615A > G SNP was significantly associated with average fat globule diameter (p < 0.05). In general, the mutations within the LAP3 gene demonstrated a positive impact on milk quality traits in Gannan yak, with mutated genotypes correlating with enhanced milk quality. These results indicate that the LAP3 gene could be a significant or candidate gene affecting milk quality traits in Gannan yak and offer potential genetic markers for molecular breeding programs in this species.

BackgroundOccupational pneumoconiosis is the most common occupational disease in Qinghai Province and China. From the perspective of public health, it is important to assess the disease burden using disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and economic losses. ObjectiveTo evaluate the disease burden of occupational pneumoconiosis in Qinghai Province, and to provide a basis for the formulation and implementation of relevant prevention and control strategies. MethodsBased on the registered data, a database of occupational pneumoconiosis cases confirmed and reported in Qinghai Province was established. The survival status and death dateof occupational pneumoconiosis patients from 2015 to 2019 were confirmed by on-site visit, telephone survey, matching search of Death Information Registration and Management System, and consulting other departments. The life loss due to occupational pneumoconiosis from 2015 to 2019 was assessed using DALY as an indicator and data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD 2019) study. Inpatients with officially diagnosed occupational pneumoconiosis from a hospital in Qinghai Province in 2019 were selected as study subjects, the direct economic loss was evaluated with hospitalization expenses, and the indirect economic loss due to occupational pneumoconiosis in Qinghai Province in 2019 was calculated by human capital approach. ResultsFrom 2015 to 2019, 505 new cases of occupational pneumoconiosis were reported in Qinghai Province, and there were 348 death cases. Prevalent cases and years lost due to disability (YLD) due to occupational pneumoconiosis were increased, while DALY and years of life lost (YLL) due to occupational pneumoconiosis decreased firstly and then increased. In each year, there were 87% or more of the DALY, YLL, or YLD attributed to silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis. In 2019, the occupational pneumoconiosis-associated DALY was 2173.55 person years. The total hospitalization expense incurred by 42 inpatients with occupational pneumoconiosis was 1256345.19 yuan. The total hospitalization expense and average daily cost of the inpatients with stageⅡand Ⅲ pneumoconiosis were higher than that of the inpatients with stageⅠ (P

The [3 + 2] cycloadditions of stabilized azomethine ylides (AMYs) derived from amino esters are well-established. However, the reactions of semi-stabilized AMYs generated from decarboxylative condensation of α-amino acids with arylaldehydes are much less explored. The [3 + 2] adducts of α-amino acids could be used for a second [3 + 2] cycloaddition as well as for other post-condensation modifications. This article highlights our recent work on the development of α-amino acid-based [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of N–H-type AMYs in multicomponent, one-pot, and stepwise reactions for the synthesis of diverse heterocycles related to some bioactive compounds and natural products.

Abstract Yak has been subject to natural selection, human domestication and interspecific introgression during its evolution. However, genetic variants favored by each of these processes have not been distinguished previously. We constructed a graph-genome for 47 genomes of 7 cross-fertile bovine species. This allowed detection of 57,432 high-resolution structural variants (SVs) within and across the species, which were genotyped in 386 individuals. We distinguished the evolutionary origins of diverse SVs in domestic yaks by phylogenetic analyses. We further identified 334 genes overlapping with SVs in domestic yaks that bore potential signals of selection from wild yaks, plus an additional 686 genes introgressed from cattle. Nearly 90% of the domestic yaks were introgressed by cattle. Introgression of an SV spanning the KIT gene triggered the breeding of white domestic yaks. We validated a significant association of the selected stratified SVs with gene expression, which contributes to phenotypic variations. Our results highlight that SVs of different origins contribute to the phenotypic diversity of domestic yaks.

Energy feed can provide animals with balanced nutrition, thereby enhancing their growth performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary energy levels on the growth performance, serum metabolites, and meat quality of Jersey cattle–yaks. A total of 24 male Jersey cattle–yaks were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed diets with metabolizable energy levels of 8.21 MJ/kg (LE), 9.50 MJ/kg (ME), and 10.65 MJ/kg (HE), respectively. The HE and ME groups showed significantly higher final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency compared to the LE group (p < 0.05). The glucose (GLU) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were significantly increased in the serum of the ME and HE groups (p < 0.05). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher in the serum of the HE group than in the ME group (p < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels exhibited a significant decrease with increasing metabolizable energy levels in the diet (p < 0.05). Increasing dietary energy levels enhances the eye muscle area and intramuscular fat content of Jersey cattle–yaks (p < 0.05), with no effect on pH45 min, pH24 h, and shear force. In the HE group, the levels of heneicosanoic acid (C21:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), and eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n6) were notably elevated (p < 0.05) when compared to the LE group. We concluded that a higher dietary energy level enhanced the growth performance and meat quality traits of male Jersey cattle–yaks.

Male reproductive health is largely determined already in the early development of the testis. Although much work has been carried out to study the mechanisms of testicular development and spermatogenesis, there was previously no information on the differences in the protein composition of yak testicles during early development. In this study, the protein profiles in the testicles of 6- (M6), 18- (M18), and 30-month-old (M30) yaks were comparatively analyzed using TMT proteomics. A total of 5521 proteins were identified, with 13, 1295, and 1397 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in 30- vs. 18-, 18- vs. 6-, and 30- vs. 6-month-old testes, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that DEPs were mainly involved in signaling pathways related to testicular development and spermatogenesis, including the MAPK, PI3K–Akt, Wnt, mTOR, TGF-β, and AMPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, we also identified eight potential proteins (TEX101, PDCL2, SYCP2, SYCP3, COL1A1, COL1A2, ADAM10, and ATF1) that may be related to the testicular development and spermatogenesis of yaks. This study may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the testicular development and spermatogenesis of yaks.

Synthetic radicals have intrinsic power for cascading and multifunctional reactions to construct diverse molecular scaffolds. In the previous review series, we covered 1,2-difunctionalizations, remote 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,5-, 1,6-, and 1,7-difunctionalizations, addition followed by cyclization reactions, and cycloaddition-initiated difunctionalizations. Presented in this paper are radical addition-initiated trifunctionalization reactions of alkenes, alkynes, and their derivatives. After the initial radical addition, there are different pathways, such as group or hydrogen atom transfer, cyclization, and radical coupling, to complete the second and third functionalizations.

With the increasing application of semi-underground buildings, it is of greater significance to understand indoor air quality and personnel satisfaction in different functional areas within such buildings. In this study, a semi-underground building in Xi’an was taken as an example to test and study the indoor air quality in different functional areas, and a questionnaire survey based on the satisfaction of indoor personnel was conducted at the same time. The comprehensive results showed that the places with the highest concentrations of PM2.5 exceeding the standard limit in the semi-underground building were the milk tea shops, hair salons, and driving schools, presenting 1.01 times, 1.15 times, and 1.08 times the standard limit, respectively. Hair salons were the sites with the highest pollution. The second most frequent pollutants were formaldehyde (HCHO) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). In contrast to the wind speed parameters, the indoor concentrations of pollutants were higher than those outdoors. The upper limits of personnel satisfaction for particulate matter with a diameter less than 1.0 microns (PM1.0), particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), and TVOCs were all higher than the standard limits. The upper limits of personnel satisfaction for PM10, HCHO, wind speed, carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were all below the standard limits. This provides data support and reference values for the widespread development and application of semi-underground buildings.

This paper introduces a trapezoidal orthogonal stiffener steel plate shear wall (TSW). The finite element model of the TSW was developed following the validation of low-cycle repeated tests conducted on a single-span double-layer steel plate shear wall. The paper studies the effects of the flat steel plate thickness, stiffener thickness, stiffener height, and stiffener bottom width on the seismic performance of TSW. Building upon these findings, a theoretical formula for the ultimate shear capacity of TSW was developed. The results prove the following: (1) By changing the flat steel plate thickness, the stiffener thickness, and the stiffener height, the seismic behavior of TSW can be enhanced. It is suggested that the flat steel plate thickness is 4~6 mm, the stiffener thickness is 4~6 mm, and the stiffener height is not more than 60 mm, while the effect of the stiffener bottom width on the seismic behavior of TSW can be neglected. (2) The maximum error is 22.16%, compared to the theoretical value of TSW ultimate shear capacity with the finite element simulation value. However, as the finite element results surpass the test results, it indicates that the formula-derived results are unsafe, necessitating a recommendation for correction.

Yak milk, known as the “liquid gold”, is a nutritious food with extensive consumption. Compared with cow milk, yak milk contains higher levels of nutrients such as dry matter, milk fat, and milk protein, which demonstrates great potential for exploitation and utilization. Protein kinase cGMP-dependent 1 (PRKG1) is an important functional molecule in the cGMP signaling pathway, and its significant influence on milk fatty acids has been discovered. The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PRKG1 gene and the quality traits of Gannan yak milk in order to identify candidate molecular markers for Gannan yak breeding. In this study, genotyping was performed on 172 healthy, 4–5-year-old lactating Gannan yaks with similar body types, naturally grazed, and two to three parity. Three SNPs (g.404195C>T, g.404213C>T, and g.760138T>C) were detected in the PRKG1 gene of Gannan yaks, which were uniformly distributed in the yak population. Linkage disequilibrium analysis was conducted, revealing complete linkage disequilibrium between g.404195C>T and g.404213C>T. After conducting a correlation analysis between SNPs in the PRKG1 gene and milk quality in Gannan yaks, we found that PRKG1 SNPs significantly increased the content of casein, protein, and SNFs in yak milk. Among them, the TT homozygous genotype at the PRKG1 g.404195C>T loci exhibited higher casein and protein contents compared to the CC and CT genotypes (p < 0.05). The SNP g.760138T>C locus was associated with casein, protein, SNFs, and TS traits (p < 0.05). The CC genotype had higher casein and protein contents than the TT and TA genotypes (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in milk fat, lactose, and acidity among the three genotypes (p > 0.05). In summary, PRKG1 gene polymorphism can serve as a candidate molecular marker for improving milk quality in Gannan yaks.

Yak (Bos grunniens) is a unique large ruminant species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Changing the energy levels of their rations can significantly improve their growth performance. Therefore, studying the effects of dietary energy levels on the rumen microflora and metabolites of yak is crucial for enhancing the development of the yak industry. Currently, there is a lack of understanding regarding the impact of feeding energy diets on rumen fermentation parameters, microbial functions, and metabolites. This study was designed to determine the appropriate energy level for feeding yak. Three test diets with metabolizable energy levels of 7.57 MJ/kg, 9.44 MJ/kg, and 11.9 MJ/kg were used and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in rumen fluid was measured. The microbial communities, functions, and metabolites in yaks were studied by 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenome, and LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics to investigate the relationships among rumen fermentation parameters, microbial diversity, and metabolites. Ration energy levels significantly affect total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, iso-valerate, valerate, and acetate/propionate (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the dominant phyla in all three treatment groups were Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota. At the genus level, the abundance of the unclassified_o__Bacteroidales, norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Family _XIII_AD3011_group showed significant differences (p < 0.05) and were significantly correlated with differential metabolites screened for phosphatidylcholine [PC(16:0/0:0), PC(18:3/0:0)], uridine 3′-monophosphate, and adenosine monophosphate, etc. CAZymes family analysis showed that GHs and CEs differed significantly among the three groups. In addition, differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the pathways of lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, and the concentrations of differential metabolites were correlated with microbial abundance. In summary, this study analyzed the effects of ration energy levels on rumen microorganisms and metabolites of yaks and their relationships. The results provided a scientific basis for the selection of dietary energy for yaks in the house feeding period in the future.

Abstract Space groups describing the symmetry of lattice structure allow the emergence of fermionic quasiparticles with various degeneracy in the band structure. Theoretical efforts have predicted many materials hosting fermions with the highest degeneracy, i.e., eightfold fermions, yet lacking experimental realization. Here, we explore the band degeneracies in TaCo2Te2 crystals. Through systematic experimental and theoretical analyses, we establish TaCo2Te2 as a nonsymmorphic crystal with negligible spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and long-range magnetic order. These critical properties guarantee the realization of practical eightfold fermions and fourfold van Hove singularity, as directly observed by photoemission spectroscopy. TaCo2Te2 serves as a topological quantum critical platform, which can be tuned into various magnetic, topologically trivial, and nontrivial phases by adding strain, magnetic field, or SOC. The latter is demonstrated by our first-principles calculations, which show that enhancing SOC in TaCo2Te2 will promote the experimental observation of bulk hourglass fermions. Our results establish TaCo2Te2 as a platform to explore the interplay between symmetry and band topology.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a genome-level trait that arises from a variation in a single nucleotide, leading to diversity in DNA sequences. SNP screening is commonly used to provide candidate genes for yak breeding efforts. Integrin Subunit Alpha 9 (ITGA9) is an integrin protein. It plays an important role in cell adhesion, signalling, and other processes. The aim of this study was to discuss the association between genetic polymorphisms in the ITGA9 gene and milk quality traits and to identify potential molecular marker loci for yak breeding quality. We genotyped 162 yaks using an Illumina Yak cGPS 7K liquid chip and identified the presence of polymorphisms at nine SNP loci in the ITGA9 gene of yaks. The results showed that the mutant genotypes in the loci g.285,808T>A, g.306,600T>C, and g.315,413C>T were positively correlated with the contents of casein, protein, total solids (TS), and solid nonfat (SNF) in yak milk. In other loci, heterozygous genotypes had a positive correlation with nutrient content in yak milk. Then, two ITGA9 haplotype blocks were constructed based on linkage disequilibrium, which facilitated a more accurate screening of ITGA9 as a candidate gene for yak milk quality improvement. In conclusion, we identified SNPs and haplotype blocks related to yak milk quality traits and provided genetic resources for marker-assisted selection in yak breeding.

Radical reactions are powerful in the synthesis of diverse molecular scaffolds bearing functional groups. In previous review articles, we have presented 1,2-difunctionalizations, remote 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,5-, 1,6- and 1,7-difunctionalizations, and addition followed by cyclization reactions. Presented in this paper is radical cyclization followed by the second functionalization reaction. The second functionalization could be realized by atom transfer reactions, radical or transition metal-assisted coupling reactions, and reactions with neutral molecules, cationic and anionic species.

The yak is a unique species of livestock found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas. Due to factors such as late sexual maturity and a low rate of estrus, its reproductive efficiency is relatively low. The process of estrus synchronization in yaks plays a crucial role in enhancing their reproductive success and ensuring the continuation of their species. In order to clarify the characteristics of the serum metabolites of yak estrus synchronization, the yaks with inactive ovaries were compared with the estrus synchronization yaks. In this study, yaks were divided into the inactive ovaries group (IO), gonarelin-induced yak estrus group (GnRH), and chloprostenol sodium-induced yak estrus group (PGF). After the completion of the estrus synchronization treatment, blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of the non-estrus yaks in the control group and the yaks with obvious estrus characteristics in the GnRH and PGF groups. Metabolites were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and differential metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that a total of 70 significant differential metabolites were screened and identified in the GnRH vs. IO group, and 77 significant differential metabolites were screened and identified in the PGF vs. IO group. Compared with non-estrus yaks, 36 common significant differential metabolites were screened out after the induction of yak estrus by gonarelin (GnRH) and cloprostenol sodium (PGF), which were significantly enriched in signaling pathways such as the beta oxidation of very long chain fatty acids, bile acid biosynthesis, oxidation of branched chain fatty acids, steroidogenesis, steroid biosynthesis, and arginine and proline metabolism. This study analyzed the effects of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin F (PGF) on the reproductive performance of yaks treated with estrus synchronization, which provides a theoretical basis for the optimization and application of yak estrus synchronization technology and promotes the healthy development of the yak industry.

Protein kinase D1 (PRKD1) functions primarily in normal mammary cells, and the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 3 (KCNQ3) gene plays an important role in controlling membrane potential and neuronal excitability, it has been found that this particular gene is linked to the percentage of milk fat in dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PRKD1 and KCNQ3 genes and the milk quality of Gannan yak and to find molecular marker sites that may be used for milk quality breeding of Gannan yak. Three new SNPs were detected in the PRKD1 (g.283,619T>C, g.283,659C>A) and KCNQ3 gene (g.133,741T>C) of 172 Gannan lactating female yaks by Illumina yak cGPS 7K liquid-phase microarray technology. Milk composition was analyzed using a MilkoScanTM milk composition analyzer. We found that the mutations of these three loci significantly improved the lactose, milk fat, casein, protein, non-fat milk solid (SNF) content and acidity of Gannan yaks. The lactose content of the TC heterozygous genotype population at g.283,619T>C locus was significantly higher than that of the TT wild-type population (p < 0.05); the milk fat content of the CA heterozygous genotype population at g.283,659C>A locus was significantly higher than that of the CC wild-type and AA mutant populations (p < 0.05); the casein, protein and acidity of the CC mutant and TC heterozygous groups at the g.133,741T>C locus were significantly higher than those of the wild type (p < 0.05), and the SNF of the TC heterozygous group was significantly higher than that of the mutant group (p < 0.05). The results showed that PRKD1 and KCNQ3 genes could be used as candidate genes affecting the milk traits of Gannan yak.

BackgroundMalignant cerebral edema (MCE) is a life-threatening complication of large hemisphere infarction (LHI). Therefore, a fast, accurate, and convenient tool for predicting MCE can guide triage services and facilitate shared decision-making. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for the early prediction of MCE risk in acute LHI involving the anterior circulation and to understand the potential mechanism of MCE.MethodsThis retrospective study included 312 consecutive patients with LHI from 1 January 2019 to 28 February 2023. The patients were divided into MCE and non-MCE groups. MCE was defined as an obvious mass effect with ≥5 mm midline shift or basal cistern effacement. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression were performed to explore the MCE-associated factors, including medical records, laboratory data, computed tomography (CT) scans, and independent clinic risk factors. The independent factors were further incorporated to construct a nomogram for MCE prediction.ResultsAmong the 312 patients with LHI, 120 developed MCE. The following eight factors were independently associated with MCE: Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.007), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (p = 0.006), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (p < 0.001), admission monocyte count (p = 0.004), white blood cell count (p = 0.002), HbA1c level (p < 0.001), history of hypertension (p = 0.027), and history of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.114). These characteristics were further used to establish a nomogram for predicting prognosis. The nomogram achieved an AUC-ROC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82–0.96).ConclusionOur nomogram based on LASSO-logistic regression is accurate and useful for the early prediction of MCE after LHI. This model can serve as a precise and practical tool for clinical decision-making in patients with LHI who may require aggressive therapeutic approaches.

Abstract Background Normal testicular development is highly crucial for male reproduction and is a precondition for spermatogenesis that is the production of spermatozoa in the testes. MiRNAs have been implicated in several testicular biological processes, including cell proliferation, spermatogenesis, hormone secretion, metabolism and reproductive regulation. In the present study, we used deep sequencing data to study the functions of miRNAs during testicular development and spermatogenesis, by analyzing the expression patterns of small RNAs in 6-, 18- and 30-month-old yak testis tissues. Results A total of 737 known and 359 novel miRNAs were obtained from 6-, 18- and 30-month-old yak testes. In all, we obtained 12, 142 and 139 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in 30- vs. 18-, 18- vs. 6-, and 30- vs. 6-month-old testes, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of all DE miRNA target genes revealed BMP2, TGFB2, GDF6, SMAD6, TGFBR2 and other target genes as participants in different biological processes, including TGF-β, GnRH, Wnt, PI3K–Akt, MAPK signaling pathways and several other reproductive pathways. In addition, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of seven randomly selected miRNAs in 6-, 18- and 30-month-old testes, and the results were consistent with the sequencing data. Conclusions The differential expression of miRNAs in yak testes at different development stages was characterized and investigated using deep sequencing technology. We believe that the results will contribute to further understanding the functions of miRNAs in regulating the development of yak testes and improving the reproductive performance of male yaks.

Abstract The tailings pond is a dangerous source of man-made debris flow with high potential energy. The oxidative acidification of tailings may cause the instability of the pond and induce serious safety accidents. The influence of oxidation and acidification degree on macro mechanical properties of tailings is discussed from the aspects of mineral composition and microstructure. The results show that as the degree of oxidation and acidification of tailings sand increases, the overall structural performance and load-bearing capacity decrease, and its cohesion (c) and internal friction angle (φ) show a decreasing trend. In fact, the engineering properties of tailings with different oxidation and acidification degrees are dominated by the physicochemical composition and structural characteristics. On the one hand, as the degree of oxidation increases, acidic substance will neutralize with CaCO3 and CaMg(CO3)2, resulting in the loss of cemented substance and the decrease of cementation force between tailing sand particles as well as the gradual destruction of the integrity of tailing sand. On the other hand, the increase of oxidation and acidification degree of tailing sand leads to a gradual reduction of outline (2D) fractal dimension and gray surface (3D) fractal dimension of surface laminated structure as well as the obvious reduction of laminated structure and its roughness of tailings sand.

During the severe accident of light water reactors (LWRs), the particulate debris bed with porous structure may be formed at different places in the reactor after molten corium fuel coolant interaction (FCI). The coolability of the debris bed therefore plays an important role in corium risk quantification, which is crucial to the stabilization and termination of a severe accident in LWRs. Many experimental and analytical studies have been conducted towards quantitative understanding of debris bed coolability. However, most of previous studies were conducted based on the homogeneous debris beds packed with single size particles, and only a few investigations were performed with the heterogeneous debris beds like stratified debris bed. In fact, scoping studies on debris bed formation and configuration based on FCI experiments indicate that the stratified debris bed would be most expected. In order to study the flow characteristics in heterogeneous debris beds, the packed porous beds with radial stratification were constructed in the present study using two different sizes glass spheres with the diameter of 2 mm and 8 mm respectively. Besides, the homogeneous packed beds packed with single size particles and uniform mixture by the above two size particles were also constructed for comparison. The particles were packed in a cylindrical test section with the inner diameter of 120 mm and the height of 600 mm. Single-phase flow tests were performed on the homogeneous beds and heterogeneous bed firstly to investigate the flow resistance characteristics in the packed beds with different configurations. Then numerical simulation was also conducted to reveal the flow redistribution of stratified bed, especially on the flow field at the stratified interface. The experimental results show that the pressure drops of single-phase flow in the homogeneous beds can be well predicted by Ergun equation. For the radial stratified packed bed with different permeability layers, the pressure drops in each layer of the stratified bed are almost equal and increase with the liquid inlet flowrate. Comparing with those in the homogenous beds packed with the same size particles as those in different layer of stratified bed, the pressure drops in the stratified bed are much lower than those of homogenous bed packed with smaller size particles, while slightly higher than those with larger size particles. The numerical simulation results state that there is a two-dimensional flow phenomenon in the radial stratified bed. In addition to dominate upward flow in the stratified bed, a lateral flow flows from low permeability layer to high permeability layer. The two-dimensional flow in stratified bed decreases the flowrate and pressure drops in low permeability layer and increases the pressure drops in high permeability layer. With the increase of liquid flowrate, the average lateral flowrate at the stratified interface increases, but the ratio of lateral volume flowrate to total fluid volume flowrate decreases.

ObjectiveTo use the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) to develop and validate a risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years.MethodsA total of 2,802 participants (aged ≥ 60 years) from NHANES were analyzed. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used for variable selection and model development. ROC-AUC, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the nomogram’s performance.ResultsThe nomogram included five predictors, namely sex, moderate activity, taste problem, age, and education. It demonstrated satisfying discrimination with a AUC of 0.744 (95% confidence interval, 0.696–0.791). The nomogram was well-calibrated according to the calibration curve. The DCA demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful.ConclusionThe risk-prediction nomogram for cognitive impairment in people aged over 60 years was effective. All predictors included in this nomogram can be easily accessed from its’ user.

Yak milk has various potential health benefits due to its high nutritional content and unique composition. It is an excellent source of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which can promote overall health and wellbeing. Yak milk may have potential therapeutic benefits for hypertension, as it contains peptides that have been shown to have antihypertensive effects. Yak milk has also been shown to possess antioxidant properties, which can help protect against oxidative stress and related health problems. Moreover, its fat contains higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, such as conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to various health benefits, including reducing inflammation, improving heart health, and supporting brain function. Moreover, further research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of yak milk, its unique composition and high nutritional content suggest that it may offer numerous health benefits and could be a valuable addition to a healthy diet.

Yak meat is nutritionally superior to beef cattle but has a low fat content and is slow-growing. The liver plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism, and in order to determine whether different feeding modes affect lipid metabolism in yaks and how it is regulated, we employed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology to analyze the genome-wide differential gene expression in the liver of yaks maintained under different raising systems. A total of 1663 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (|log2FC| ≥ 0 and p-value ≤ 0.05), including 698 down-regulated and 965 up-regulated genes. According to gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses, these DEGs were significantly enriched in 13 GO terms and 26 pathways (p < 0.05). Some DEGs were enriched in fatty acid degradation, PPAR, PI3K-Akt, and ECM receptor pathways, which are associated with lipid metabolism. A total of 16 genes are well known to be related to lipid metabolism (e.g., APOA1, FABP1, EHHADH, FADS2, SLC27A5, ACADM, CPT1B, ACOX2, HMGCS2, PLIN5, ACAA1, IGF1, FGFR4, ALDH9A1, ECHS1, LAMA2). A total of 11 of the above genes were significantly enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway. The reliability of the transcriptomic data was verified using qRT-PCR. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms regulating yak meat quality. It shows that fattening improves the expression of genes that regulate lipid deposition in yaks and enhances meat quality. This finding will contribute to a better understanding of the various factors that determine yak meat quality and help develop strategies to improve yield and quality.

Jersey-yak is a hybrid offspring of Jersey cattle and yak (Bos grunniens). Changing the feeding system of Jersey-yak can significantly improve its growth performance. In this study, tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomics technology was used to determine the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle of Jersey-yak fed different protein levels of diet. The results showed that compared with the traditional grazing feeding, the growth performance of Jersey-yaks was significantly improved by crude protein supplementation after grazing. A total of 3368 proteins were detected in these muscle samples, of which 3365 were quantified. A total of 434 DEPs were identified. Through analyses, it was found that some pathways related to muscle growth and development were significantly enriched, such as Rap1 signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. A number of DEPs enriched in these pathways are related to muscle cell development, differentiation, and muscle development, including integrin subunit alpha 7 (ITGA7), myosin heavy chain 8 (MYH8), and collagen type XII alpha 1 chain (COL12A1). In conclusion, the results of this study provide insights into the proteomics of different feeding patterns of Jersey-yak, providing a stronger basis for further understanding the biological mechanism of hybrid varieties.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the changes in structure and function in amygdala sub-regions in patients with postpartum depression (PPD) before and after acupuncture.MethodsA total of 52 patients with PPD (All-PPD group) were included in this trial, 22 of which completed 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment (Acu-PPD group). An age-matched control group of 24 healthy postpartum women (HPW) from the hospital and community were also included. Results from the 17-Hamilton Depression Scale (17-HAMD) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were evaluated, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were performed at baseline and after the acupuncture treatment. Sub-regions of the amygdala were used as seed regions to measure gray matter volume (GMV) and analyzed for resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) values separately. Finally, correlation analyses were performed on all patients with PPD to evaluate association values between the clinical scale scores, GMV, and RSFC values, while controlling for age and education. Pearson's correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the relevance between GMV and RSFC values of brain regions that differed before and after acupuncture treatment and clinical scale scores in Acu-PPD patients.ResultsThe HAMD scores for Acu-PPD were reduced after acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05), suggesting the positive effects of acupuncture on depression symptoms. Structurally, the All-PPD group showed significantly decreased GMV in the left lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.L) and the right lateral part of the amygdala (lAMG.R) compared to the HPW group (P < 0.05). In addition, the GMV of lAMG.R was marginally increased in the Acu-PPD group after acupuncture (P < 0.05). Functionally, the Acu-PPD group showed a significantly enhanced RSFC between the left medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.L) and the left vermis_6, an increased RSFC between the right medial part of the amygdala (mAMG.R) and left vermis_6, and an increased RSFC between the lAMG.R and left cerebelum_crus1 (P < 0.05). Moreover, correlation studies revealed that the GMV in the lAMG.R was significantly related to the EPDS scores in the All-PPD group (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that the structure of amygdala sub-regions is impaired in patients with PPD. Acupuncture may improve depressive symptoms in patients with PPD, and the mechanism may be attributed to changes in the amygdala sub-region structure and the functional connections of brain areas linked to the processing of negative emotions. The fMRI-based technique can provide comprehensive neuroimaging evidence to visualize the central mechanism of action of acupuncture in PPD.

IntroductionThe crude protein level in the diet will affect the fermentation parameters, microflora, and metabolites in the rumen of ruminants. It is of great significance to study the effect of crude protein levels in supplementary diet on microbial community and metabolites for improving animal growth performance. At present, the effects of crude protein level in supplementary diet on rumen fermentation parameters, microbial community, and metabolites of Jersey-Yak (JY) are still unclear.MethodsThe purpose of this experiment was to study the appropriate crude protein level in the diet of JY. The rumen fermentation indexes (volatile fatty acids and pH) were determined by supplementary diets with crude protein levels of 15.16 and 17.90%, respectively, and the microbial community and metabolites of JYs were analyzed by non-target metabonomics and metagenome sequencing technology, and the changes of rumen fermentation parameters, microbial flora, and metabolites in the three groups and their interactions were studied.Results and DiscussionThe crude protein level in the supplementary diet had significant effects on pH, valeric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.05). The protein level had no significant effect on the dominant microflora at the phylum level (p > 0.05), and all three groups were Bacteroides and Firmicutes. The results of metabolite analysis showed that the crude protein level of supplementary diet significantly affected the metabolic pathways such as Bile secretion and styrene degradation (p < 0.05), and there were different metabolites between the LP group and HP group, and these different metabolites were related to the dominant microbial to some extent. To sum up, in this experiment, the effects of crude protein level in supplementary diet on rumen microorganisms and metabolites of JY and their relationship were studied, which provided the theoretical basis for formulating a more scientific and reasonable supplementary diet in the future.

Coiled-coil serine-rich protein 1 (CCSER 1) gene is a regulatory protein gene. This gene has been reported to be associated with various economic traits in large mammals in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CCSER1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Gannan yaks and to identify potential molecular marker loci for breeding milk quality in Gannan yaks. We genotyped 172 Gannan yaks using Illumina Yak cGPS 7K liquid microarrays and analyzed the correlation between the three SNPs loci of the CCSER1 gene and the milk qualities of Gannan yaks, including milk fat, protein and casein. It was found that mutations at the g.183,843A>G, g.222,717C>G and g.388,723G>T loci all affected the fat, protein, casein and lactose traits of Gannan yak milk to varying extents, and that the milk quality of individuals with mutant phenotypes was significantly improved. Among them, the milk fat content of AG heterozygous genotype population at g.183,843A>G locus was significantly higher than that of AA and GG genotype populations (p < 0.05); the casein and protein content of mutant GG and CG genotype populations at g.222,717C>G locus was significantly higher than that of wild-type CC genotype population (p < 0.05); and the g.388,723G>T locus of the casein and protein contents of the mutant TT genotype population were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of the wild-type GG genotype population. These results provide potential molecular marker sites for Gannan yak breeding.

BackgroundThe mortality rate in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and cervical fracture is relatively high.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the instantaneous death risk and conditional survival (CS) in patients with AS and cervical fracture. We also studied the relationship between surgical timing and the incidence of complications.MethodsThis national multicentre retrospective study included 459 patients with AS and cervical fractures between 2003 and 2019. The hazard function was used to determine the risk of instantaneous death. The five-year CS was calculated to show the dynamic changes in prognosis.ResultsThe instantaneous death risk was relatively high in the first 6 months and gradually decreased over time in patients with AS and cervical fracture. For patients who did not undergo surgery, the instantaneous risk of death was relatively high in the first 15 months and gradually decreased over time. For patients with American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (ASIA) A and B, the 5-year CS was 55.3% at baseline, and improved steadily to 88.4% at 2 years. Odds ratios (ORs) for pneumonia, electrolyte disturbance, respiratory insufficiency, and phlebothrombosis decreased as the surgery timing increased.ConclusionDeaths occurred mainly in the first 6 months after injury and gradually decreased over time. Our study highlights the need for continued surveillance and care in patients with AS with cervical fractures and provides useful survival estimates for both surgeons and patients. We also observed that early surgery can significantly increase functional recovery, and decrease the incidence of complications and rehospitalisation.

Summary: One-pot synthesis is an active topic in organic chemistry due to its intrinsic advantages of simple operation, high mass efficiency, low cost, and less amount of waste disposal. Among three kinds of one-pot syntheses, 1) cascade reactions, 2) multicomponent reactions (MCRs), and 3) one-pot stepwise synthesis (OPSS), OPSS could be more flexible and practical since it is carried out stepwisely and have variable reaction conditions for different steps. This perspective article uses selected examples to highlight the recent development in OPSS involving cyclization, cycloaddition, rearrangement, and catalytic reactions for the synthesis of heterocyclic scaffolds, asymmetric molecules, natural products, and bioactive compounds.

Abstract Background Full-thickness rectal prolapse (FTRP) frequently occurs in elderly women, and more than 100 surgical procedures have been proposed to restore FTRP. The Gant-Miwa-Thiersch (GMT) procedure is the most used treatment in China. However, the recurrence rate of FTRP post-GMT, which is as high as 23.8%, is concerning. We described a new modified GMT combined with internal and external rectal sclerosant injection (nmGMTSI) procedure to address this problem. Methods The nmGMTSI was performed under spinal anesthesia in 34 frail, elderly female patients with FTRP. The surgical results of FTRP were assessed. Fecal incontinence and constipation were evaluated using the Wexner score, and anal canal rest pressure (ACRP), maximum anal systolic pressure (MASP), anorectal sensation thresholds (AST), and maximum rectal tolerance (MRT) using anorectal manometry preoperatively and postoperatively. The causes of recurrence and complications were analyzed. Results All patients were cured according to the clinical cure standard. The perioperative Wexner fecal incontinence score (WFIS) was 10.3 ± 3.31, which became 3.7 ± 2.43 (P

This study selects the electro-optical equipment manufacturing industry as an example to explore whether participation in the global value chain increases or mitigates a country’s carbon emissions and describes the impacting factors. Based on multi-regional input-output tables, a value-added decomposition model is used to decompose forward and backward value-added/final products of the world’s electro-optical equipment manufacturing industries in 65 countries from 2005 to 2015. Impacts of several global value chain participation characteristics, including position, forward participation and production length, and backward participation and production length, on a country’s carbon emissions, are examined. The results show that Asian countries have the highest participation rate in the global value chain, both forward and backward, of the electro-optical equipment sector with increasing proportions for forward participation, but lowest backward participation, in simple global value chains. An increase in forward global value chain participation contributes to the reducing carbon emission intensity of the electro-optical equipment manufacturing industry, particularly in terms of simple global value chain participation. On the other hand, the production length of the backward simple global value chain is positively correlated with the total imported carbon emission intensity, indicating that the longer the simple global value chain of foreign production is included in the industry’s imported intermediate products and the lower the country’s position in the global value chain is, the higher its imported carbon emission intensity is. Upgrade in the global value chain is able to reduce the embodied carbon emissions in the intermediate product exports and total imports.

Skeletal muscle growth and development is a complicated process that is regulated at multiple steps and by numerous myogenesis genes. RNA editing represents one of the events at the post-transcriptional level, which contributes to the diversity of transcriptome and proteome by altering the nucleotides of RNAs. However, RNA editing events in the skeletal muscle of yaks are still not well defined. This study conducted whole-genome RNA-editing identification in skeletal muscle of yaks at embryonic stage (ES) and adult stage (AS). We found a total of 11,168 unique RNA editing sites, most of which were detected in the intergenic region. After annotation, we totally identified 2,718 editing sites within coding regions, among which 858 were missense changes. Moreover, totally 322 editing sites in the 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) were also predicted to alter the set of miRNA target sites, indicating that RNA editing may be involved in translational repression or mRNA degradation. We found 838 RNA editing sites (involving 244 common genes) that are edited differentially in ES as compared to AS. According to the KEGG enrichment analysis, these differentially edited genes were mainly involved in pathways highly related to skeletal muscle development and myogenesis, including MAPK, AMPK, Wnt, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Altogether, our work presents the first characterization of RNA editing sites within yak skeletal muscles on a genome-wide scale and enhances our understanding of the mechanism of skeletal muscle development and myogenesis.

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional properties of yak milk in various areas of Gannan. The milk composition analyzer, automatic amino acid analyzer, and flavor analyzer were used to detect the conventional nutrients, amino acids, and volatile flavor substances of 249 yak milks in Meiren grassland, Xiahe grassland, and Maqu grassland (hereinafter referred to as Meiren yak, Xiahe yak, and Maqu yak) in the Gannan area. The results showed that the fat content of Meiren yak milk was significantly higher than that of Maqu yak and Xiahe yak (p < 0.05). The protein content of Meiren yak milk was significantly higher than that of Xiahe yak (p < 0.05), but not significantly different from that of Maqu yak (p > 0.05). The casein content in the milk of Maqu yak was significantly higher than that of Meiren yak and Xiahe yak (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the lactose content of yak milk in the three regions (p > 0.05). The content of glutamic acid in the milk of Meiren yak, Xiahe yak, and Maqu yak was noticeably high, which was 1.03 g/100 g, 1.07 g/100 g, and 1.10 g/100 g, respectively. The total amino acid (TAA) content was 4.78 g/100 g, 4.87 g/100 g, and 5.0 g/100 g, respectively. The ratios of essential amino acids (EAA) and total amino acids (TAA) in the milk of Meiren yak, Xiahe yak, and Maqu yak were 42.26%, 41.27%, and 41.39%, respectively, and the ratios of essential amino acids (EAA) and nonessential amino acids (NEAA) were 73.19%, 70.28%, and 70.61%, respectively. In the yak milk samples collected from three different regions, a total of 34 volatile flavor compounds were detected, including 10 aldehydes, five esters, six ketones, four alcohols, two acids, and seven others. The main flavor substances qualitatively obtained from Meiren yak milk were ethyl acetate, n-valeraldehyde, acetic acid, heptanal, and n-hexanal. Xiahe yak milk mainly contains ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, n-valeraldehyde, heptanal, and ethyl butyrate. Maqu yak milk mainly contains ethyl acetate, n-valeraldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, heptanal, ethyl butyrate, and n-hexanal. Principal component analysis showed that the flavor difference between Xiahe yak and Maqu yak was small, while the flavor difference between Xiahe yak, Maqu yak, and Meiren yak was large. The findings of this research can serve as a foundation for the future advancement and application of yak milk.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been widely used as an emerging technology for the rapid identification of microorganisms. Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is a food-borne pathogen of particular importance to the powdered infant formula (PIF) processing environment due to its high lethality in infants. However, the traditional solid spotting detection method of pretreating samples for MALDI-TOF MS leads only to qualitative detection of C. sakazakii. We developed a new, low-cost, robust liquid spotting pretreatment method and used a response surface methodology to optimize its parameters. The applicability, accuracy, and quantitative potential were measured for different types of samples. The optimal parameters of this method were as follows: a volume of 70% formic acid of 25 μL, treatment with ultrasound at 350 W for 3 min, and a volume of acetonitrile added of 75 μL. These conditions led to the highest identification score for C. sakazakii (1926.42 ± 48.497). This method was found to detect bacteria accurately and reproducibly. When 70 strains of C. sakazakii isolates were analyzed with this method, the identification accuracy was 100%. The detection limit of C. sakazakii in environmental and PIF samples was 4.1 × 101 cfu/mL and 2.72 × 103 cfu/mL, respectively.

Understanding animal growth plays an important role in improving animal genetics and breeding. In order to explore the early growth and development law of Ashidan yak, the body weight (BW), wither height (WH), body oblique length (BL) and chest girth (CG) of 260 female Ashidan yaks were measured. These individuals grew under grazing conditions, and growth traits were measured at 6, 12, 18 and 30 months of age. Then the absolute growth and relative growth of Ashidan yak were calculated, and five nonlinear models (Logistic model, Gompertz model, Brody model, von Bertalanffy model and Richards model) were used to fit the growth curve of Ashidan yak. The fitting effect of the model was evaluated according to MSE, AIC and BIC. The results showed that the growth rate of Ashidan yak was the fastest from 12 to 18 months old, and the growth was slow or even stagnant from 6 to 12 months old. The AIC and BIC values of the Richards model were the lowest among the five models, with an AIC value of 4543.98 and a BIC value of 4563.19. The Richards model estimated body weight at 155.642 kg. In summary, the growth rate of female Ashidan yak changes with the seasons, growing faster in warm seasons and slower in cold seasons. Richards model is the best model to describe the growth curve of female Ashidan yak in five nonlinear models.