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Simple Summary: Preserving genetic diversity is of significant importance for the sustainable development of livestock farming. Due to the unique environment in Hainan province, Hainan yellow cattle exhibit excellent heat tolerance and adaptability. Signal analysis of selection can provide valuable information for the conservation and utilization of this breed. Therefore, this study aims to compare the whole-genome sequencing data of Hainan yellow cattle with four other cattle breeds. Through the analysis of selection features, some candidate genes related to heat stress were identified. Hainan yellow cattle are indigenous Zebu cattle from southern China known for their tolerance of heat and strong resistance to disease. Generations of adaptation to the tropical environment of southern China and decades of artificial breeding have left identifiable selection signals in their genomic makeup. However, information on the selection signatures of Hainan yellow cattle is scarce. Herein, we compared the genomes of Hainan yellow cattle with those of Zebu, Qinchuan, Nanyang, and Yanbian cattle breeds by the composite likelihood ratio method (CLR), Tajima's D method, and identifying runs of homozygosity (ROHs), each of which may provide evidence of the genes responsible for heat tolerance in Hainan yellow cattle. The results showed that 5210, 1972, and 1290 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were screened by the CLR method, Tajima's D method, and ROH method, respectively. A total of 453, 450, and 325 genes, respectively, were identified near these SNPs. These genes were significantly enriched in 65 Gene Ontology (GO) functional terms and 11 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways (corrected p < 0.05). Five genes—Adenosylhomocysteinase-like 2, DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C3, heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 1A, CD53 molecule, and zinc finger and BTB domain containing 12—were recognized as candidate genes associated with heat tolerance. After further functional verification of these genes, the research results may benefit the understanding of the genetic mechanism of the heat tolerance in Hainan yellow cattle, which lay the foundation for subsequent studies on heat stress in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Low body weight is not conducive to the growth and development of mammals in the subsequent stages of weaning. The rumen microbiota plays an important role in the growth, development, production, and health of ruminants. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using a combined 16S rRNA and metabolomics analysis method to determine the impact of the rumen microbiota and serum metabolites on goat kids before weaning weight. This study may help to provide new insights for further regulating the rumen microbiota to improve the body weight of animals. The critical role of the rumen microbiota in the growth performance of livestock is recognized, yet its significance in determining the body weight of goat kids before weaning remains less understood. To bridge this gap, our study delved into the rumen microbiota, serum metabolome, rumen fermentation, and rumen development in goat kids with contrasting body weights before weaning. We selected 10 goat kids from a cohort of 100, categorized into low body weight (LBW, 5.56 ± 0.98 kg) and high body weight (HBW, 9.51 ± 1.01 kg) groups. The study involved sampling rumen contents, tissues, and serum from these animals. Our findings showed that the HBW goat kids showed significant enrichment of VFA-producing bacteria, particularly microbiota taxa within the Prevotellaceae genera (UCG-001, UCG-003, and UCG-004) and the Prevotella genus. This enrichment correlated with elevated acetate and butyrate levels, positively influencing rumen papillae development. Additionally, it was associated with elevated serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The serum metabonomic analysis revealed marked differences in fatty acid metabolism between the LBW and HBW groups, particularly in encompassing oleic acid and both long-chain saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Further correlational analysis underscored a significant positive association between Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and specific lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) (22:5/18:3) and PC (20:3/20:1) (r > 0.60, p < 0.05). In summary, this study underscores the pivotal role of the rumen microbiota in goat kids' weight and its correlation with specific serum metabolites. These insights could pave the way for innovative strategies aimed at improving animal body weight through targeted modulation of the rumen microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter–disseminated sand (OMDS) is a widely distributed problematic soil in coastal areas of Hainan province, China. Its existence makes the installation of piles difficult and has the risk of insufficient bearing capacity. OMDS is different from other organic soils such as peat in terms of formation, mineral component, organic content, and forms of organic matters. In this study, 20% (w/w) cement together with 7.5% (w/w) lime at a water–cement ratio of 0.45 was mixed with OMDS to improve its mechanical performances. A series of unconsolidated undrained static triaxial test was conducted on the stabilized OMDS to investigate the failure mode, stress–strain relationship, maximum and residue deviator stress, axial strain at failure, and elastic modulus under various confining pressures (0, 200, 300, 400 kPa) and curing time (7d, 14d, 28d). The test results showed that higher confining pressure and longer curing time in general led to higher maximum and residue deviator stress, larger axial strain at failure, and larger secant elastic modulus of cement-stabilized OMDS. The maximum and residue deviator stress of cement-stabilized OMDS increased with curing time and ranged from 500 to 2180 kPa and from 250 to 1800 kPa, respectively. Under elevated confining pressure, maximum deviator stress increased substantially, irrespective of curing time. Secant elastic modulus (E50) increased with confining pressure at these three curing time, from 29 to 42 MPa. Due to the existence of organic matters, the strength of cement-stabilized OMDS was lower than cement-stabilized non-organic sand, regardless of confining pressure and curing time. This study provided new insight into the shear strength behavior of cement-stabilized OMDS under different confining conditions. This will facilitate the design and construction of foundations in this type of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Remote sensing data from 1962–2018 were used to analyze coastal lagoon–tidal inlet. • Four shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events were observed. • A conceptual model for cyclic periodic evolution of ebb-tidal deltas was proposed. • The crucial factors of long-term and short-term in their evolution were discussed. • Remote sensing can be used for early warning of the evolution of ebb-tidal deltas. Coastal lagoon–tidal inlet systems occur worldwide, and each has its own unique evolution characteristics in relation to its geographical location, sediment characteristics, and tidal current and ocean wave conditions. However, insufficient observation data means that it is often difficult to fully understand the long-term and short-term evolution of ebb-tidal deltas, and it is even more difficult to monitor and warn against their evolution. This study uses long time-series remote sensing data for the period 1962–2018 to investigate the evolution of an ebb-tidal delta in Xincun Lagoon, Hainan Island, China. Four shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events were observed, and the corresponding periodic variation characteristics of the ebb-tidal delta were documented. A conceptual model for the periodic evolution of ebb-tidal deltas was also proposed. The results showed that the long-period (15–20 years) evolution was controlled by the effects of seabed friction and tidal-scale lagoon resonance, while the changes in the length of the east sand-spit could be used as a significant early warning indicator for shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events. In addition, both types of event were jointly triggered by typhoon storm-surges and the accompanying heavy rainfall, strong winds, and strong waves. Thus, the periodic evolution process of the ebb-tidal delta in Xincun Lagoon was determined to be a systematic process that is either controlled or influenced by a series of interconnecting factors. Moreover, we concluded that it is both feasible and valuable to establish a monitoring and early warning framework of ebb-tidal deltas through the use of time-series remote sensing images. The results of this study can improve the existing understanding of the processes and driving factors of periodic shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration, and can also increase safety nourishment for coastal lagoon–tidal inlet systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter–disseminated sand (OMDS) is a problematic soil widely distributed in Hainan Province, China. OMDS is usually stabilized using cementitious materials to improve its bearing capacity. However, there is a lack of understanding of the dynamic characteristics of cement-stabilized OMDS. In this study, a series of unconsolidated undrained stress-controlled cyclic triaxial shear tests were conducted on OMDS samples stabilized by cement and lime. The cyclic triaxial behavior of cement-stabilized OMDS under various confining pressures, curing periods, and cement contents was studied. Through data fittings, the maximum elastic modulus (E max), normalized elastic modulus (E d / E max), and maximum dynamic damping ratio (λ max) were obtained. Then, the effects of cement content, curing time, and initial confining pressure on E max , E d / E max and λ max were systematically analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness of cement stabilization on the dynamic behavior of cement-stabilized OMDS was discussed by comparing the data with that of un-cemented OMDS. • Dynamic triaxial shear behavior of cement-stabilized organic sand is investigated. • E max increases with confining pressure, cement content, and curing time. • Normalized dynamic elastic modulus (E d / E max) is independent of confining pressure. • λ max reduces with confining pressure, cement content, and curing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]