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Objective The present study was executed to explore the molecular mechanism of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) gene in bovine adipogenesis. Methods The bovine FGF10 gene was overexpressed through Ad-FGF10 or inhibited through siFGF10 and their negative control (NC) in bovine adipocytes, and the multiplicity of infection, transfection efficiency, interference efficiency were evaluated through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and fluorescence microscopy. The lipid droplets, triglycerides (TG) content and the expression levels of adipogenic marker genes were measured during preadipocytes differentiation. The differentially expressed genes were explored through deep RNA sequencing. Results The highest mRNA level was found in omasum, subcutaneous fat, and intramuscular fat. Moreover, the highest mRNA level was found in adipocytes at day 4 of differentiation. The results of red-oil o staining showed that overexpression (Ad-FGF10) of the FGF10 gene significantly (p

Over the last decade, the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been increasingly exploited for the synthesis of high‐value raw materials in gaseous or liquid form, although no examples of CO2 fixation in nanoparticle systems have been demonstrated. Herein, CO2 fixation into solid nanomaterials by laser synthesis and processing of gold colloids in water, traditionally considered a green approach leading to ligand‐free nanoparticles without the formation of by‐products, is reported. If carbon monoxide‐rich gold nanoparticles are observable even after synthesis in deionized water, the presence of CO2 derivatives in alkaline water environment leads to C2 and C3 coupling with the production of carboxylic acids as a typical CO2RR fingerprint. While laser processing of preformed gold colloids is selective for C2 coupling, both C2 and C3 coupling to lactic acid are observed during pulsed laser ablation of a gold target. In the latter case, it is demonstrated that it is possible to synthesize photoluminescent organometallic nanocomposites in the blue spectral region with a quantum yield of about 20% under adequate experimental conditions. In this research, new pathways are offered to be explored in energetics, photonics, catalysis, and synthesis at the nanoscale.

Abstract The removal of toxic dye pigments from the environment is of utmost importance since even trace amounts of these pollutants can lead to harmful impacts on ecosystems. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a potential technique for eliminating microbiological, inorganic, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Here, we report the band gap alteration of ZnO by making its composites with CuSe to enhance photocatalytic activity. The purpose is to develop metal oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/CuSe) as an effective and efficient material for the photodegradation of methyl blue. The photocatalysts, ZnO nanorods, CuSe, and ZnO/CuSe nanocomposites of different weight ratios were synthesized by the simple and cost-effective technique of precipitation. UV–Vis spectra verified that the ZnO/CuSe photocatalyst improved absorption in the visible region. The optical bandgap of ZnO/CuSe nanocomposites reduced from 3.37 to 2.68 eV when CuSe concentration increased from 10 to 50%. ZnO/CuSe composites demonstrated better photocatalytic activity than ZnO when exposed to UV–visible light. The pure ZnO nanorods could absorb UV light and the nanocomposites could absorb visible light only; this was attributed to the transfer of excited high-energy electrons from ZnO to CuSe.

The authors report a scheme for enhancing the photodegradation properties of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) by controlling their structural phases through cations doping (cobalt and Sulfur). Cobalt-sulfur co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process, with sulfur content varying at levels of 0.69, 1.37, and 2.06 atomic percent (at. %), while maintaining a constant cobalt content of 0.2 at. %. Our finding shows that the methyl blue dye loaded with pure TiO2 degraded marginally in 120 min (⁓ 10.5%) while in the presence of an optimally doped sample (Co: 0.2 at. %, S 2.06 at. %), it degraded almost 93% for the same duration. The study explores the underlying physical mechanisms that contribute to the varying levels of photoactivity, and these mechanisms are found to be influenced by the valency of the doping agents. The findings of this study demonstrate that precise control over the formation of the anatase phase through doping enables the production of a remarkably efficient TiO2-based photocatalyst. Our results indicate great prospects in enhancing TiO2-based photocatalyst development chemically, a suitable approach for large-scale nanoparticle production for industrial applications.

In the quest for advanced materials with diverse applications in optoelectronics and energy storage, we delve into the fascinating world of halide perovskites, focusing on SiAuF3 and SiCuF3. Employing density functional theory (DFT) as our guiding light, we conduct a comprehensive comparative study of these two compounds, unearthing their unique structural, electronic, elastic, and optical attributes. Structurally, SiAuF3 and SiCuF3 reveal their cubic nature, with SiCuF3 demonstrating superior stability and a higher bulk modulus. Electronic investigations shed light on their metallic behavior, with Fermi energy levels marking the boundary between valence and conduction bands. The band structures and density of states provide deeper insights into the contributions of electronic states in both compounds. Elastic properties unveil the mechanical stability of these materials, with SiCuF3 exhibiting increased anisotropy compared to SiAuF3. Our analysis of optical properties unravels distinct characteristics. SiCuF3 boasts a higher refractive index at lower energies, indicating enhanced transparency in specific ranges, while SiAuF3 exhibits heightened reflectivity in select energy intervals. Further, both compounds exhibit remarkable absorption coefficients, showcasing their ability to absorb light at defined energy thresholds. The energy loss function (ELF) analysis uncovers differential absorption behavior, with SiAuF3 absorbing maximum energy at 6.9 eV and SiCuF3 at 7.2 eV. Our study not only enriches the fundamental understanding of SiAuF3 and SiCuF3 but also illuminates their potential in optoelectronic applications. These findings open doors to innovative technologies harnessing the distinctive qualities of these halide perovskite materials. As researchers seek materials that push the boundaries of optoelectronics and energy storage, SiAuF3 and SiCuF3 stand out as promising candidates, ready to shape the future of these fields.

This research pursued the effect of various calcination temperatures (300–1000 °C) on developing structural phases and the optical, dielectric, and photodegradation characteristics of cobalt-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). The prepared NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, ultraviolet–visible light (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, and photodegradation of methylene blue in the presence of visible light. XRD analysis revealed the formation of a tetragonal anatase phase for the samples calcined at 300–600 °C, while the Co-doped samples calcined at 800 °C and 1000 °C displayed a tetragonal rutile phase. The optical band gap analysis indicated that doping in the host matrix produced lower band gap energy for all the prepared samples. Dielectric measurements showed that the rutile phase heated at 800 °C had a larger dielectric constant and dielectric loss than the un-doped TiO2 and the other cobalt-doped samples. Finally, the anatase Co-doped TiO2 exhibited a maximum MB degradation of 93 % in 90 min compared to un-doped TiO2, which only degraded 14 % and rutile-TiO2 NPs (62 % degradation). The underlying mechanism responsible for the diverse photodegradation performance displayed by the anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 NPs is discussed. Overall, these results demonstrate that cobalt doping and the crystalline phase of TiO2 NPs are vital parameters involved in optimizing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2.

This work explains the first-principle computational inquiry of physical features of BWF3 (W = S and Si) halide-Perovskites compounds. With the aid of the WIEN2K code, our recent computation solely relies on Density Functional Theory (DFT). Using the equation of states made by Birch Murnaghan for optimization. The elastic factors are figure out and used to compute elastic characteristics, we found that both composites are structurally as well elastically stable. These substances exhibit strong resistance to plastic strain and are show ductility, scratch-resistant and anisotropic. BSF3 and BSiF3 are both metal-like substances, according to calculations made using the Tb-mBJ) potential approach. Density of states calculations are recycled to conclude how different energy states are involved in band structures. These compounds' band gap energies make it simple to study various optical characteristics. These chemicals exhibit strong absorption at high energy ranges. The compound BSF3 is transparent to incoming photons at low energies, while the complex BSiF3 is opaque. We have come to the conclusion that the compounds BSF3 and BSiF3 can be employed for high-frequency UV device applications as a result of our study into their optical properties. For the first time, our computational effort is calculated to investigate these substances that have not yet been experimentally proven to our satisfaction.

Adipogenesis involves complex interactions between transcription and metabolic signalling. Exploration of the developmental characteristics of intramuscular adipocyte will provide targets for enhancing beef cattle marbling without increasing obesity. Few reports have compared bovine perirenal and intramuscular adipocyte transcriptomes using the combined analysis of transcriptomes and lipid metabolism to explore differences in adipogenic characteristics. We identified perirenal preadipocytes (PRA) and intramuscular preadipocytes (IMA) in Qinchuan cattle. We found that IMA were highly prolific in the early stages of adipogenesis, while PRA shows a stronger adipogenic ability in the terminal differentiation. Bovine perirenal and intramuscular adipocytes were detected through the combined analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome. More triglyceride was found to be upregulated in perirenal adipocytes; however, more types and amounts of unsaturated fatty acids were detected in intramuscular adipocytes, including eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3; DHA). Furthermore, differentially expressed genes in perirenal and intramuscular adipocytes were positively correlated with the eicosanoid, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), and sphingomyelin contents. Associated differential metabolic pathways included the glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolisms. Our research findings provide a basis for the screening of key metabolic pathways or genes and metabolites involved in intramuscular fat production in cattle.

In this study, the investigations of structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of a scintillating double perovskite halide (Cs2LiCeCl6) by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) is reported. The optimized lattice constant (a0) is fully consistent with the experimental results, and the ground state optimized energy confirms the cubic (Fm 3¯ m space group) stability of the compound. The electronic band structures and densities of states are analyzed within approximations of PBE-GGA and TB-mBJ to have precise and accurate results. In the spin-up channel the metallic behavior of the compound is confirmed, while in the spin-down channel there is a band gap of 3.83 eV with an indirect nature from Γ-X, so clarifying its behavior towards semiconductors and thus overall making the compound to be half-metallic, and hence, it is clear that the material exhibit spin polarization. The ferromagnetic behavior is verified by the asymmetric density of states in both spin channels and the optimized energy volume curve in spin-polarized calculations. The optical parameters are computed and it is found that the compound Cs2LiCeCl6 possesses high optical conductivity, absorption coefficient and compared in both approximations and analyzed in the energy range of (0–20) eV and hence predict the applications of this material in high-frequency ultraviolet devices and also for particle detection.

Herein the first-principle modeling within the DFT framework is used to investigate the structural, optoelectronic, elastic, and thermoelectric properties of BaMF3 (M = Ag and Cu) ternary halide Perovskites compounds. The computed tolerance factors for BaAgF3 and BaCuF3 are 0.919 and 0.991 respectively, indicating that the cubic crystal phase of these selected compounds is thermodynamically and mechanically stable. It is found that both the compounds are structurally stable according to the Birch-Murnaghan fit curve for optimization. The IRelast package is used for investigating the elastic properties of both cubic compounds and the findings show that these compounds are mechanically stable, scratch-resistant, ductile, anisotropic, and resistant to plastic deformation. The Trans-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) approximation is employed to determine electronic properties with accuracy and precision. The electronic-band structure analysis depicts a narrow band gap semiconductor nature of BaAgF3 and BaCuF3 compounds which displays indirect band gaps of 0.2 eV for BaAgF3 and 0.3 eV for BaCuF3 at the high symmetrical points from (Γ–M). Furthermore, the computations of total densities of states (TDOS) and partial densities of states (PDOS) are carried out to determine how different states contribute to the various band structures. The optical characteristics of BaAgF3 and BaCuF3 are comprehensively examined in 0–40 eV energy ranges. The selected materials possess high optical conduction and absorption coefficients at the high level of photon energies and show transparency at low incident photon energy ranges. The investigations of optical properties led us to the conclusion that BaAgF3 and BaCuF3 are suitable to use in high-frequency UV devices. The thermoelectric properties show that both materials hold high-power factors, electrical conductivity, and figures of merit (ZT), indicating that they are good thermoelectric materials. This is the first theoretical computational systematic analysis of structural, optoelectronic, elastic, and thermoelectric properties of BaMF3 (M = Ag and Cu) that will be experimentally validated to our knowledge.

Abstract Background This study was conducted to detect potential polymorphisms of the serum amyloid A2 (SAA2) gene and explore their relationships with milk production traits in Chinese Holstein cows. Objectives: This study used sequencing technology conducted in 532 Chinese Holstein cows. Methods Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within intron 1, named g.14061A>G, g.14072G>C and g.14819C>T. Eight estimated haplotypes were identified, of which three major haplotypes had a frequency of Hap3 (‐ACC‐), Hap5 (‐GCC‐) and Hap2 (‐AGT‐), with 17.9%, 12.30% and 8.10%, respectively. Results The association analysis of single markers (g.14061A>G and g.14819C>T) and combined genotypes (Hap1/5) revealed prominent effects on milk production traits in Chinese Holstein cows (p

Al-based fluoroperovskites compounds AlMF3 (M = Cu, Mn) are researched computationally, and their various aspects are examined using TB-MBJ potential approximations for energy generation. This is due to their increasing power conversion efficiency, which has drawn a lot of attention. These compounds are cubic and stable in terms of structure, according to the Birch Murnaghan curve and tolerance factor. Computed are the optimised lattice parameters and the optimal volume Vo of the compounds matching the ideal energies. These compounds are mechanically stable, anisotropic, and ductile, according to the IRelast algorithm's predictions of elastic properties. At (X-M) symmetry points, AlCuF3 and AlMnF3 have a small indirect band gap, with band gaps of −0.54 eV for AlCuF3 and 0.45 eV for AlMnF3, respectively. The AlCuF3 compounds' narrow indirect band gap reveals their metallic character. AlMnF3, however, is a semiconductor. The offering of various elemental states to the conduction and valence bands is calculated using the partial and total density of states (TDOS & PDOS). These compounds exhibit low refractive index, high absorption coefficient, and conductivity at high energy ranges, according to an analysis of their optical properties. These compounds have applications in conducting industries because of the indirect band gap. Here, we used these compounds for the first time and used a computational method to study them, which provides a comprehensive perspective of all the various features.

Background: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles in the responses to different environmental stresses. In this study, the genomic and proteomic characteristics of three HSPs (HSP70, HSP90-α and HSP90-β) in five even-toed ungulates (sheep, goats, water buffalo, Zebu cattle and cattle) were analyzed using Multiple sequence alignment, SWISS modeling and phylogenetics analysis tools. Results: The bioinformatic analysis revealed that the HSP70 gene in cattle, Zebu cattle, and goat is located on chromosome 23, and is intronless, while in water buffalo and sheep it is located on chromosomes 2 and 20, respectively, and contains two exons linked by one intron. The HSP90-α gene is located on chromosome 21 in cattle, Zebu cattle, and goat, while in water buffalo and sheep it is located on chromosomes 20 and 18, respectively. The HSP90-β gene is located on the same chromosome as the HSP70 gene and contains 12 exons interspersed by 11 introns in all studied animals. In silico Expasy translate tool analysis revealed that HSP70, HSP90-α and HSP90-β encode 641, 733, and 724 amino acids, respectively. The data revealed that goat HSP70 protein has seven variable amino acid residues, while in both sheep and cattle only one such amino acid was detected. Conclusions: This study will be supportive in providing new insights into HSPs for adaptive machinery in these studied animals and selection of target genes for molecular adaptation of livestock.How to cite: Raza SHA, Hassanin AA, Dhshan AIM, et al. In silico genomic and proteomic analyses of three heat shock proteins (HSP70, HSP90-α, and HSP90-β) in even-toed ungulates. Electron J Biotechnol 2021;53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.07.002

The hydro-thermal features of 3D (3-dimensional) nonlinear Carreau fluid motion over a paraboloid surface of revolution are examined. The impacts of thermal radiation and mass transfer are considered during the fluid motion. The flow is modeled by a set of nonlinear coupled partial differential equations (PDEs) satisfying certain associated boundary conditions. Appropriate transformations are used to convert the coupled system of PDEs to ODEs. The resultant coupled ODEs system is solved analytically by using the well developed analytical procedure of Homotopy Analysis Technique (HAM). The influence of relevant parameters are investigated on the state functions of the Carreau fluid MHD motion by depicting 2D graphs. It has been found that the increasing thickness of paraboloid surface of revolution augments the fluid velocity and shear stress components, whereas drops the gradient in the velocity distribution. The enhancing Grashof number increases the fluid velocity components as well as its gradients. The increasing magnetic field strength retards the fluid migration, and therefore drops the velocity gradients. The increasing rotation parameter augments the horizontal component of velocity and reduces the velocity vertical component. The fluid temperature enhances with the increasing strength of radiation source, internal heat source, and reflection parameters. The enhancing chemical reaction parameter values drop the fluid concentration. The convective heat energy transport increases with the enhancing Brownian motion, while the convective mass transfer rises with the increasing radiation source strength. The results obtained are compared with a numerical technique by graphs and tables, where the accuracy and effectiveness of HAM is proved The agreement of the obtained results and the published research validates the exactness of the applied analytical technique.

The Impact of Co and Gd on the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of ZnO nanotubes synthesized by co-precipitation is reported. The results demonstrate that incorporating Co and Gd into ZnO diminished crystallinity while retaining the optimum orientation. The outcomes of transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examined that the Co and Gd dopants had no effect on the morphology of the produced nanotubes. It was also discovered that as the frequency and concentration of Gd co-dopant decreased, the dielectric constant and loss values increased. When doping was present, the dielectric constant and ac electrical conductivity response was found to be inversely related. Ultimately, at 300K, Co and Gd co-doped ZnO nanotubes exhibited ferromagnetic properties. When Gd doping was increased to 3%, the ferromagnetic response increased. Since then, increasing the Gd co-doping, the ferromagnetic response decreased. For the same sample (Zn0.96−xCo0.04Gd0.03O nanotubes), the electrical conductivity exhibited also superior to pure and low Gd doped ZnO. Its high ferromagnetism is usually caused by magnetic impurities replaced on the ZnO side. Therefore, considering the behaviour of these nanotubes, it can be sued spin-based electronics.

This research is being conducted to learn more about various compounds and their potential uses in various fields such as renewable energy, electrical conductivity, the study of optoelectronic properties, the use of light-absorbing materials in photovoltaic device thin-film LEDs, and field effect transistors (FETs). AgZF3 (Z = Sb, Bi) compounds, which are simple, cubic, ternary fluoro-perovskites, are studied using the FP-LAPW and low orbital algorithm, both of which are based on DFT. Structure, elasticity and electrical and optical properties are only some of the many features that can be predicted. The TB-mBJ method is used to analyze several property types. An important finding of this study is an increase in the bulk modulus value after switching Sb to Bi as the metallic cation designated as “Z” demonstrates the stiffness characteristic of a material. The anisotropy and mechanical balance of the underexplored compounds are also revealed. Our compounds are ductile, as evidenced by the calculated Poisson ratio, Cauchy pressure, and Pugh ratio values. Both compounds exhibit indirect band gaps (X-M), with the lowest points of the conduction bands located at the evenness point X and the highest points of the valence bands located at the symmetry point M. The principal peaks in the optical spectrum can be understood in light of the observed electronic structure.

This work describes an ab initio principle computational examination of the optical, structural, elastic, electronic and mechanical characteristics of aluminum-based compounds AlRF3 (R = N, P) halide-perovskites. For optimization purposes, we used the Birch–Murnaghan equation of state and discovered that the compounds AlNF3 and AlPF3 are both structurally stable. The IRelast software was used to compute elastic constants (ECs) of the elastic properties. The aforementioned compounds are stable mechanically. They exhibit strong resistance to plastic strain, possess ductile nature and anisotropic behavior and are scratch-resistant. The modified Becke–Johnson (Tb-mBJ) approximation was adopted to compute various physical properties, revealing that AlNF3 and AlPF3 are both metals in nature. From the density of states, the support of various electronic states in the band structures are explained. Other various optical characteristics have been calculated from the investigations of the band gap energy of the aforementioned compounds. These compounds absorb a significant amount of energy at high levels. At low energy levels, the compound AlNF3 is transparent to incoming photons, whereas the compound AlPF3 is somewhat opaque. The examination of the visual details led us to the deduction that the compounds AlNF3 and AlPF3 may be used in making ultraviolet devices based on high frequency. This computational effort is being made for the first time in order to investigate the aforementioned properties of these chemicals, which have yet to be confirmed experimentally.

Background: Adipogenesis and fibrogenesis can be considered as a competitive process in muscle, which may affect the intramuscular fat deposition. The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) plays an important role in adipogenesis, which is well-characterized in mice, but little known in bovine so far. Results: In this study, real-time qPCR revealed that the level of C/EBPβ was increased during the developmental stages of bovine and adipogenesis process of preadipocytes. Overexpression of C/EBPβ promoted bovine fibroblast proliferation through mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), a necessary process for initiating adipogenesis, by significantly downregulating levels of p21 and p27 (p

Background: This study aimed to explore genetic polymorphisms of the CCKAR gene and their relationship with the growth and development of Qinchuan cattle which could be used as molecular markers for the improvement of the breeding of Qinchuan cattle. Results: Here, we have identified seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at loci g. 1463 C>G; g. 1532 T>A; g. 1570 G>A; g. 1594 C>A; g. 1640 T>C; g. 1677 G>C; and g. 1735 C>T in the coding region of the bovine CCKAR gene. The frequencies identified on allelic and genotypic characteristics have shown that all seven SNPs diverged from the Hardy-Weinberg-Equilibrium. The SNP2, SNP3, SNP6 and SNP7 had the lowest polymorphism information content values, and remaining SNPs were found to be moderate (0.25 G had the greatest association with WH, HW, CD and CCF, while the genotype TA at the very same loci was associated with BFT, ULA and IMF content in Qinchuan cattle. The CCKAR gene expression level in adipose tissue, small intestine, liver and skeleton muscle was found to be higher, whereas, the expression level of mRNA in organs of other digestive system including reticulum, abomasum and omasum was moderate. Some expression of CCKAR mRNA was found in the large intestine, kidney and rumen. Conclusions: In summary, our finding suggested that the CCKAR gene could be used as a potential candidate for the improvement of carcass quality and body measurements of Qinchuan cattle. How to cite: Nurgulsim K, Raza SHA, Khan R, et al. Identification of genetic variants the CCKAR gene and based on body measurement and carcass quality characteristics in Qinchuan beef cattle (Bos taurus). Electron J Biotechnol 2021;51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.02.001

As a member of the large tumor suppressor (LATS) gene family, LATS1 plays an important role in regulating muscle growth and development. In this study, we determined the distinct exhibit patterns of tissue expression of bovine LATS1. Further, we determined the functional proximal minimal promoter of bovine LATS1 and identified the key transcription factors in the core promoter region to elucidate its molecular regulation mechanism. The results showed that bovine LATS1 was highly expressed in the longissimus thoracis and upregulation in infancy muscle. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay in combination with site-directed mutation and small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference demonstrated that myogenic differentiation 1 (Myod1) and myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) binding in the core promoter region (−298/−123 bp) play important roles in the transcriptional regulation of the bovine LATS1 promoter. Taken together, these interactions provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms of LATS1 transcription in mediating skeletal muscle growth in cattle.

Sensors for the detection of heavy metal ions in water are in high demand due to the danger they pose to both the environment and human health. Among their possible detection approaches, modulation of the photoluminescence of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) is gaining wide interest as an alternative to classical analytical methods based on complex and high-cost instrumentation. In the present work, luminescent oxidized AuNCs emitting in both ultraviolet (UV) and visible (blue) regions were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation of a gold target in NaOH aqueous solution, followed by different bleaching processes. High-resolution electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray scattering confirmed the presence of oxygen and gold in the transparent photoluminescent clusters, with an average diameter of about 3 nm. The potentialities of the bleached AuNCs colloidal dispersions for the detection of heavy metal ions were studied by evaluating the variation in photoluminescence in the presence of Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ ions. Different responses were observed in the UV and visible (blue) spectral regions. The intensity of blue emission decreased (no more than 10%) and saturated at concentrations higher than 20 ppb for all the heavy metal ions tested. In contrast, the UV band emission was remarkably affected in the presence of Hg2+ ions, thus leading to signal variations for concentrations well beyond 20 ppb (the concentration at which saturation occurs for other ions). The limit of detection for Hg2+ is about 3 ppb (15 nmol/L), and the photoluminescence intensity diminishes linearly by about 75% up to 600 ppb. The results are interpreted based on the ligand-free interaction, i.e., the metallophilic bonding formation of Hg2+ and Au+ oxide present on the surface of the UV-emitting nanoclusters.

The effect of orally administered hawthorn flavonoid extract (HFE) on growth, electrocardiographic waves, and cardiac parameters of pulmonary hypertensive chickens reared at high altitude (2,100 m above sea level) was examined. A total of 225 one-day-old, mixed broiler chicks (3 treatments with 5 replicates and 15 chicks per each, totally 75 birds/treatment) were assigned to 3 experimental groups: 0, 0.1, and 0.2 ml of HFE per 1 L of drinking water. Birds were administered the drinking water HFE treatments for 42 D. At an age of 28 and 42 D, electrocardiograms were undertaken and cardiac parameters such as the RV:TV, RV:BW, and TV:BW, and indicators of PHS on selected birds were measured. The final BW of chickens receiving the HFE at 0.2 ml/L was greater (2,579 ± 64 g) than that of birds receiving 0.1 ml/L (2,497 ± 62 g) and 0 ml/L (2,323 ± 57 g). Therefore, no supplemented group had a lower final BW than others (P < 0.05). Amplitudes of S and T waves in 0.1- and 0.2-ml/L HFE consumed groups at 28 and 42 D of age decreased compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). The HFE reduced the heart weight and RV:TV, RV:BW, and TV:BW ratios when supplemented in drinking water at 0.1 and 0.2 mL/L compared with 0 mL/L (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of HFE in drinking water can reduce the PHS and incidence of cardiac disorders. Owing to the positive effect of HFE on cardiac parameters that mediated through flavonoids bioactive compounds, this product can be used to prevent complications of pulmonary hypertension and disarray of electrocardiographic waves in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.

Muscle tissue is involved with every stage of life activities and has roles in biological processes. For example, the blood circulation system needs the heart muscle to transport blood to all parts, and the movement cannot be separated from the participation of skeletal muscle. However, the process of muscle development and the regulatory mechanisms of muscle development are not clear at present. In this study, we used bioinformatics techniques to identify differentially expressed genes specifically expressed in multiple muscle tissues of mice as potential candidate genes for studying the regulatory mechanisms of muscle development. Mouse tissue microarray data from 18 tissue samples was selected from the GEO database for analysis. Muscle tissue as the treatment group, and the other 17 tissues as the control group. Genes expressed in the muscle tissue were different to those in the other 17 tissues and identified 272 differential genes with highly specific expression in muscle tissue, including 260 up-regulated genes and 12 down regulated genes. is the genes were associated with the myofibril, contractile fibers, and sarcomere, cytoskeletal protein binding, and actin binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes in muscle tissue were mainly concentrated in pathways for AMPK signaling, cGMP PKG signaling calcium signaling, glycolysis, and, arginine and proline metabolism. A PPI protein interaction network was constructed for the selected differential genes, and the MCODE module used for modular analysis. Five modules with Score > 3.0 are selected. Then the Cytoscape software was used to analyze the tissue specificity of differential genes, and the genes with high degree scores collected, and some common genes selected for quantitative PCR verification. The conclusion is that we have screened the differentially expressed gene set specific to mouse muscle to provide potential candidate genes for the study of the important mechanisms of muscle development.

This work displays the structural, electronic, elastic, optical, and magnetic properties in spin-polarized configurations for cubic fluoroperovskite ABF3 (A = Tl, B = Nb, V) compounds studied by density functional theory (DFT) by means of the Tran-Blaha-modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) approach. The ground state characteristics of these compounds, i.e., the lattice parameters a0, bulk modulus (B), and its pressure derivative B′ are investigated. The structural properties depict that the selected compounds retain a cubic crystalline structure and have stable ground state energy. Electronic-band structures and DOS (density of states) in spin-polarized cases are studied which reports the semiconducting nature of both materials. The TDOS (total density of states) and PDOS (partial density of states) studies in both spin configurations show that the maximum contributions of states to the different bands is due to the B-site (p-states) atoms as well as F (p-states) atoms. Elastic properties including anisotropy factor (A), elastic constants, i.e., C11, C12, and C44, Poisson’s ratio (υ), shear modulus and (G), Young’s modulus (E) are computed. In terms of elastic properties, the higher (bulk modulus) “B” and ratio of “B/G” yield that these materials exhibit a ductile character. Magnetic properties indicate that both the compounds are ferromagnetic. In addition, investigations of the optical spectra including the real (ε1ω) and imaginary (ε2ω) component of the dielectric function, refractive index nω, optical reflectivity Rω, optical conductivity σω, absorption coefficient αω, energy loss function Lω, and electron extinction coefficient kω are carried out which shows the transparent nature of TlVF3 and TlNbF3. Based on the reported research work on these selected materials, their applications can be predicted in many modern electronic gadgets.

This paper explains our first-principle computational investigation regarding the structural, optical, elastic, and electrical characteristics of gallium-based GaMF3 (M = Be and Ge) perovskite-type (halide-perovskite) compounds. Our current computation is based on density functional theory (DFT) and is achieved with the help of the WIEN2k code. We used the Birch–Murnaghan equation for optimization; in both compounds, we found that both GaBeF3 and GaGeF3 compounds are structurally stable. For the computation of elastic characteristics, the IRelast package for calculating elastic constants (ECs) is utilized. These compounds are mechanically ductile, scratch-resistant, anisotropic, and mechanically stable, showing huge opposition to plastic strain. The modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential approximation method is used to calculate different physical characteristics and shows that GaGeF3 behaves as a metal, whereas the GaBeF3 compound is insulating in nature. The involvement of various electronic states in band structures is calculated using the theory of the density of states. The different optical properties of these compounds can be studied easily using their band gap energy. At high energy ranges, these substances demonstrate strong absorption. At low energies, the GaGeF3 compound is transparent, while the GaBeF3 compound is opaque to incoming photons. Investigation of the optical characteristics has led us to the conclusion that both GaGeF3 and GaBeF3 compounds can be used for high-frequency ultraviolet device applications. This computational work is considered to be the first time that we can study these compounds, which to our knowledge have not previously been experimentally validated.

Al-based fluoroperovskites compounds AlMF3 (M = Cr, B) are investigated computationally and calculated their elastic, structural, optical, and electrical properties in this study utilising TB-MBJ potential (also GGA+U for AlCrF3) approximations, according to the Birch Murnaghan Equation curve and tolerance factor, these material are structurally cubic and stable. The IRelast algorithm is used to forecast elastic properties, and the outputs show that these compound are mechanically stable, anisotropic and ductile. AlBF3 has a metallic nature and overlapping states, while AlCrF3 have a narrow indirect band gap at (X-M) points of symmetry, with band gaps of 0.71 eV for AlCrF3 and zero eV for AlBF3. The partial and total density of states are being used to determine the influences of different basic states to the conduction and valence bands (TDOS & PDOS). Investigation of Optical properties shows that these compounds have low refractive index and high absorption coefficient, conductivity, reflective coefficient at high energy ranges. Owing to the indirect band gap, the applications of these compounds are deemed in conducting industries. Here we are using these compounds for first time and are examined using the computational method, which delivers a complete view into the different properties.

A coupled plasmon waveguide resonance (CPWR)-based optical sensor takes advantage of the evanescent wave at a waveguide boundary to excite surface plasmon polaritons, which can link waveguide electromagnetic energy to a surface plasmon wave to enhance the propagating surface plasmon resonance. Herein, a novel optical sensor having a BK7 prism/Ag/SiO2/SiO2:Ag structure and that couples the localised surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles in a SiO2 film was designed and fabricated. The results showed that the proposed sensor exhibited higher sensitivity (~1396.85 nm RIU−1) and figure of merit (~11.36 RIU−1) values than a traditional CPWR optical sensor (i.e., 368.50 nm RIU−1 and 1.72 RIU−1, respectively). Moreover, the resonance wavelength could be tuned to the near-infrared region by adjusting the thickness of the SiO2 interlayer or the Ag content of the top SiO2 layer. Simulations and experimental data confirmed that the CPWR-based sensor exhibited superior optical sensing performance.

Using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method, dependent on density functional theory, the simple cubic ternary fluoroperovskites XZnF3 (X = Al, Cs, Ga, In) compound properties, including structural, elastic, electronic, and optical, are calculated. To include the effect of exchange and correlation potentials, the generalized gradient approximation is applied for the optimization operation. This is identified, when we are changing the metallic cation specified as “X” when shifting to Al from Cs, the value of the bulk modulus is found to increase, showing the rigidity of a material. Depending upon the value of the bulk modulus, we can say that the compound AlZnF3 is harder and cannot be compressed as easily as compared to the other three compounds, which are having a lower value of the bulk modulus from AlZnF3. It is also found that the understudy compounds are mechanically well balanced and anisotropic. The determined value of the Poisson ratio, Cauchy pressure, and Pugh ratio shows our compounds have a ductile nature. From the computation of the band structure, it is found that the compound CsZnF3 is having an indirect band of 3.434 eV from (M-Γ), while the compounds AlZnF3, GaZnF3, and InZnF3 are found to have indirect band gaps of 2.425 eV, 3.665 eV, and 2.875 eV from (M-X), respectively. The optical properties are investigated for radiation up to 40 eV. The main optical spectra peaks are described as per the measured electronic structure. The above findings provide comprehensive insight into understanding the physical properties of Zn-based fluoroperovskites.

The thermal energy transfer characteristics during hybrid nanofluid migration are studied in the presence of a variable magnetic field, heat source, and radiation. The flow is governed by the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy, whereas it is modeled by the coupled set of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). Suitable similarity transformations are employed to convert the developed set of PDEs to a nonlinear system of coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The simplified system of ODEs is solved by using the well-established analytical procedure of homotopy analysis method (HAM). The effects of varying the strength of the physical parameters on the thermal energy transfer during hybrid nanofluid motion between two plates in which one of the plate is porous, rotating, as well as stretching are investigated through tables and two-dimensional graphs. The porosity is modeled through the Koo–Kleinstreuer model (KKL) correlation. The analysis reveals that the skin friction and Nusselt number augment with the increasing strength of the magnetic field and nanomaterials’ concentrations. The gradient in the fluid velocity has a dual dependence on the strength of the applied magnetic field and Grashof number and drops with the higher values of the unsteadiness parameter. The fluid velocity constricts with the enhancing magnetic field due to higher Lorentz forces, and it also drops with the increasing rotation rate. The enhancing buoyancy associated with higher Grashof number values augments the fluid velocity. The fluid’s temperature rises with the augmenting nanomaterial concentrations, Eckert number, nonsteadiness, heat source strength, and radiation parameter, while it drops with the higher Grashof number and Prandtl number. The applied technique of the HAM shows good convergence over a wide range of the convergent parameter. This work has potential applications in the development of efficient thermal energy transfer systems.

The thermal stability and structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of (40 + x) Fe–28Cr–(26 − x) Co–3Mo–1Ti–2V magnets with x = 0, 2, 4 addition in cobalt content were investigated and presented. The magnetic alloys were synthesized by vacuum arc melting and casting technique in a controlled argon atmosphere. Magnetic properties in the alloys were convinced by single-step isothermal field treatment and subsequent aging. The alloys were investigated for thermal stability, structural, microstructural and magnetic properties via differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffractometery (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and DC magnetometer. Metallurgical grains of size 300 ± 10 μm were produced in the specimens by casting and refined by subsequent thermal treatments. The magnetic properties of the alloys were achieved by refining the microstructure, the optimization of conventional thermomagnetic treatment to modified single-step isothermal field treatment and subsequent aging. The best magnetic properties achieved for the alloy 44Fe–28Cr–22Co–3Mo–0.9Ti–2V was coercivity Hc = 890 Oe (71 kA/m), Br = 8.43 kG (843 mT) and maximum energy product (BH)max = 3 MGOe (24 kJ/m3). The enhancement of remanence and coercivity enabled by the isothermal field treatment was due to the elongation of the ferromagnetic phase and step aging treatment due to the increase in the volume fraction. This work is interesting for spin-based electronics to be used for energy storage devices.

Adipose tissue is the largest energy reservoir and secretory organ in the animal body, and is essential for maintaining normal physiological functions and metabolic balance. MicroRNAs regulate the process of adipogenic differentiation through post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. In the present study, miR-424 was upregulated during bovine adipocyte differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. The overexpression and interference of miR-424 exhibited the positive regulatory role in the differentiation of bovine adipocytes. Furthermore, miR-424 directly binds to the three prime untranslated region (3' UTR) of serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11, also called LKB1), a master upstream gene in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) cascade, and up-regulates its expression. Functional studies showed that the knockdown of STK11 attenuated the pro-adipogenic effect of miR-424. Post-transcriptional regulation of STK11 by miR-424 was mediated potentially in an RNA binding protein (RBP) binding site-dependent manner. In conclusion, our study shows that miR-424 promotes bovine adipogenesis through an unconventional post-transcriptional regulation of STK11, which may serve as a potential target for the regulation of bovine adipogenesis and the improvement of livestock breeding efficiency.

The TORC2 gene is responsible for nutrient metabolism, gluconeogenesis, myogenesis and adipogenesis through the PI3K-Akt, AMPK, glucagon and insulin resistance signaling pathways. Sequencing of PCR amplicons explored three novel SNPs at loci g.16534694G>A, g.16535011C>T, and g.16535044A>T in the promoter region of the TORC2 gene in the Qinchuan breed of cattle. Allelic and genotypic frequencies of these SNPs deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (P < 0.05). SNP1 genotype GG, SNP2 genotype CT and SNP3 genotype AT showed significantly (P

We have investigated the electrical and optical properties of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te:(In,Pb) wafers obtained from the tip, middle, and tail of the same ingot grown by modified vertical Bridgman method using I-V measurement, Hall measurement, IR Transmittance, IR Microscopy and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. I-V results show that the resistivity of the tip, middle, and tail wafers are 1.8 × 1010, 1.21 × 109, and 1.2 × 1010 Ω·cm, respectively, reflecting native deep level defects dominating in tip and tail wafers for high resistivity compared to the middle part. Hall measurement shows the conductivity type changes from n at the tip to p at the tail in the growth direction. IR Transmittance for tail, middle, and tip is about 58.3%, 55.5%, and 54.1%, respectively. IR microscopy shows the density of Te/inclusions at tip, middle, and tail are 1 × 103, 6 × 102 and 15 × 103/cm2 respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra reflect that neutral acceptor exciton (A0,X) and neutral donor exciton (D0,X) of tip and tail wafers have high intensity corresponding to their high resistivity compared to the middle wafer, which has resistivity a little lower. These types of materials have a large number of applications in radiation detection.

Abstract The SIX1 homeobox gene belongs to the six homeodomain family and is widely thought to play a principal role in mediating of skeletal muscle development. In the present study, we determined that the bovine SIX1 gene was highly expressed in the longissimus thoracis and physiologically immature individuals. DNA sequencing of 428 individual Qinchuan cattle identified nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the SIX1 gene. Using a series of 5′ deletion promoter plasmid luciferase reporter assays and 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA end analysis (RACE), two of these SNPs were found to be located in the proximal minimal promoter region −216/−28 relative to the transcriptional start site (TSS). Correlation analysis showed the combined haplotypes H1-H2 (-GG-GA-) was significantly greater in the body measurement traits (BMTs) than the others, which was consistent with the results showing that the transcriptional activity of Hap2 was higher than the others in Qinchuan cattle myoblast cells. Furthermore, the electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) demonstrated that NRF1 and ZSCAN10 binding occurred in the promoter region of diplotypes H1-H2 to regulate SIX1 transcriptional activity. This information may be useful for molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) in cattle breeding.

Intramuscular fat is a real challenge for the experts of animal science to improve meat quality traits. Research on the mechanism of adipogenesis provides invaluable information for the improvement of meat quality traits. This study investigated the effect of bta-miR-149-5p and its underlying mechanism on lipid metabolism in bovine adipocytes. Bovine adipocytes were differentiated and transfected with bta-miR-149-5p mimics or its negative control (NC). A total of 115 DEGs including 72 upregulated and 43 downregulated genes were identified in bovine adipocytes. The unigenes and GO term biological processes were the most annotated unigene contributor parts at 80.08%, followed by cellular component at 13.4% and molecular function at 6.7%. The KEGG pathways regulated by the DEGs were PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, MAPK signaling pathway, lipid metabolism/metabolic pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, cholesterol metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. In addition to this, the most important reactome enrichment pathways were R−BTA−373813 receptor CXCR2 binding ligands CXCL1 to 7, R−BTA−373791 receptor CXCR1 binding CXCL6 and CXCL8 ligands, R−BTA−210991 basigin interactions, R−BTA−380108 chemokine receptors binding chemokines, R−BTA−445704 calcium binding caldesmon, and R−BTA−5669034 TNFs binding their physiological receptors. Furthermore, the expression trend of the DEGs in these pathways were also exploited. Moreover, the bta-miR-149-5p significantly (p < 0.01) downregulated the mRNA levels of adipogenic marker genes such as CCND2, KLF6, ACSL1, Cdk2, SCD, SIK2, and ZEB1 in bovine adipocytes. In conclusion, our results suggest that bta-miR-149-5p regulates lipid metabolism in bovine adipocytes. The results of this study provide a basis for studying the function and molecular mechanism of the bta-miR-149-5p in regulating bovine adipogenesis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in regulating skeletal muscle development by sponging miRNAs. In this study, we found that the circMYL1 expression was down-regulated during myoblast proliferation, while gradually up-regulated in myoblast differentiation. The potential role of circMYL1 was identified in the proliferation of bovine myoblast through mRNA and protein expression of proliferation marker genes (PCNA, CyclinD1, and CDK2), cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, and 5-ethynyl 2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Analysis of the expression of differentiation marker genes (MyoD, MyoG, and MYH2) and immunofluorescence of Myosin heavy chain (MyHC) was used to assess cell differentiation. The proliferation analysis revealed that circMYL1 inhibited the proliferation of bovine primary myoblast. Furthermore, the differentiation analysis demonstrated that circMYL1 promoted the differentiation of bovine primary myoblast. The luciferase screening and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays found that circMYL1 could have interaction with miR-2400. Additionally, we demonstrated that miR-2400 promoted proliferation and inhibited differentiation of bovine primary myoblast, while circMYL1 may eliminate the effects of miR-2400, as showed by rescue experiments. Together, our results revealed that a novel circular RNA of circMYL1 could inhibit proliferation and promote differentiation of myoblast by sponging miR-2400.

The TORC2 gene is a member of the transducer of the regulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein gene family, which plays a key role in metabolism and adipogenesis. In the present study, we confirmed the role of TORC2 in bovine preadipocyte proliferation through cell cycle staining flow cytometry, cell counting assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining (EdU), and mRNA and protein expression analysis of proliferation-related marker genes. In addition, Oil red O staining analysis, immunofluorescence of adiponectin, mRNA and protein level expression of lipid related marker genes confirmed the role of TORC2 in the regulation of bovine adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the transcription start site and sub-cellular localization of the TORC2 gene was identified in bovine adipocytes. To investigate the underlying regulatory mechanism of the bovine TORC2, we cloned a 1990 bp of the 5’ untranslated region (5′UTR) promoter region into a luciferase reporter vector and seven vector fragments were constructed through serial deletion of the 5′UTR flanking region. The core promoter region of the TORC2 gene was identified at location −314 to −69 bp upstream of the transcription start site. Based on the results of the transcriptional activities of the promoter vector fragments, luciferase activities of mutated fragments and siRNAs interference, four transcription factors (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein C/BEPγ, X-box binding protein 1 XBP1, Insulinoma-associated 1 INSM1, and Zinc finger protein 263 ZNF263) were identified as the transcriptional regulators of TORC2 gene. These findings were further confirmed through Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) within nuclear extracts of bovine adipocytes. Furthermore, we also identified that C/EBPγ, XBP1, INSM1 and ZNF263 regulate TORC2 gene as activators in the promoter region. We can conclude that TORC2 gene is potentially a positive regulator of adipogenesis. These findings will not only provide an insight for the improvement of intramuscular fat in cattle, but will enhance our understanding regarding therapeutic intervention of metabolic syndrome and obesity in public health as well.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in leptin-mediated regulation of energy metabolism. This study investigated genetic variation in STAT3 promoter regions and verified their contribution to bovine body size traits. We first estimated the degree of conservation in STAT3, followed by measurements of its mRNA expression during fetal and adult stages of Qinchuan cattle. We then sequenced the STAT3 promoter region to determine genetic variants and evaluate their association with body size traits. From fetus to adult, STAT3 expression increased significantly in muscle, fat, heart, liver, and spleen tissues (p < 0.01), but decreased in the intestine, lung, and rumen (p < 0.01). We identified and named five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): SNP1-304A>C, SNP2-285G>A, SNP3-209A>C, SNP4-203A>G, and SNP5-188T>C. These five mutations fell significantly outside the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (Chi-squared test, p < 0.05) and significantly associated with body size traits (p < 0.05). Individuals with haplotype H3H3 (CC-GG-CC-GG-CC) were larger in body size than other haplotypes. Therefore, variations in the STAT3 gene promoter regions, most notably haplotype H3H3, may benefit marker-assisted breeding of Qinchuan cattle.

DNA methylation is a major epigenetic modification of the genome and has an essential role in muscle development. The SIX1 gene is thought to play a principal role in mediating skeletal muscle development. In the present study, we determined that bovine SIX1 expression levels were significantly higher in the fetal bovine group (FB) and in undifferentiated Qinchuan cattle muscle cells (QCMCs) than in the adult bovine group (AB) and in differentiated QCMCs. Moreover, a bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP) analysis of DNA methylation levels showed that three CpG sites in the core promoter region (−216/−28) of the bovine SIX1 gene exhibited significantly higher DNA methylation levels in the AB and differentiated QCMCs groups. In addition, we found that DNA methylation of SIX1 core promoter in vitro obviously influences the promoter activities. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, in combination with site-directed mutation and siRNA interference, demonstrated that histone H4 and E2F2 bind to the −216/−28 region and play important roles in SIX1 methylation regulation during development. The results of this study provide the foundation for a better understanding of the regulation of bovine SIX1 expression via methylation and muscle developmental in beef cattle.

The measurements on magnetization ( M ), resistivity ( ρ ) and specific heat ( C ) were carried out for the ferromagnetic CeTi ${}_{1-x}$ Ni _x Ge _3 (0.0 $\leqslant $ x $\leqslant $ 0.45) system. It was found that the Curie temperature, T _C , decreases with increasing Ni content, x , and reaches zero kelvin near a critical content x _cr = 0.44. A new phase diagram is constructed based on these measurements. The non-Fermi liquid (nFL) behavior in ρ ( T ), and $\mathrm{log}$ ( T _0 / T ) relationship in C / T in the samples near x _cr , demonstrate that strong spin fluctuation emerges in these samples, indicating that they are near a quantum critical point (QCP). Our results indicate that CeTi ${}_{1-x}$ Ni _x Ge _3 may provide another platform to study exotic quantum phenomena near ferromagnetic QCP.