Genomic prediction of pig growth traits based on machine learning.

This study aimed to assess and compare the performance of different machine learning models in predicting selected pig growth traits and genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) using automated machine learning, with the goal of optimizing whole-genome evaluation methods in pig breeding. The research employed genomic information, pedigree matrices, fixed effects, and phenotype data from 9968 pigs across multiple companies to derive four optimal machine learning models: deep learning (DL), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB). Through 10-fold cross-validation, predictions were made for GEBV and phenotypes of pigs reaching weight milestones (100 kg and 115 kg) with adjustments for backfat and days to weight.

Bergapten inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis via promoting mitophagy.

Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation produces potent therapeutic effects in a wide array of inflammatory diseases. Bergapten (BeG), a furocoumarin phytohormone present in many herbal medicines and fruits, exibits anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we characterized the therapeutic potential of BeG against bacterial infection and inflammation-related disorders, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

Scoparone suppresses mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases.

Recent evidence shows that targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is an important means to treat inflammasome-driven diseases. Scoparone, a natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Artemisia capillaris Thunb, has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the effect of scoparone on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases.

Facile one-pot iodine gas phase doping on 2D MoS/CuS FET at room temperature.

Electronic devices composed of semiconducting two-dimensional (2D) materials and ultrathin 2D metallic electrode materials, accompanying synergistic interactions and extraordinary properties, are becoming highly promising for future flexible and transparent electronic and optoelectronic device applications. Unlike devices with bulk metal electrode and 2D channel materials, devices with ultrathin 2D electrode and 2D channel are susceptible to chemical reactions in both channel and electrode surface due to the high surface to volume ratio of the 2D structures. However, so far, the effect of doping was primary concerned on the channel component, and there is lack of understanding in terms of how to modulate electrical properties of devices by engineering electrical properties of both the metallic electrode and the semiconducting channel.

circRNA on animal skeletal muscle development regulation.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of closed circular RNA molecules formed by reverse splicing, which exists widely in organisms and has become a research hotspot in non-coding RNAs in recent years. Skeletal muscle plays the role of coordinating movement and maintaining normal metabolism and endocrine in organisms. With the development of sequencing and bioinformatics analysis technology, the functions and regulation mechanisms of circRNAs in skeletal muscle development have been gradually revealed.

Epileptic Seizure after Use of Moxifloxacin in Man with Legionella longbeachae Pneumonia.

Legionellosis caused by Legionella longbeachae is diagnosed mainly by PCR. We report a case of L. longbeachae infection in mainland China, which was diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing, in a man who developed an epileptic seizure after using moxifloxacin.

[Preliminary survey on the host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in three plateau lakes of Yunnan Province].

Objective: To investigated the intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in three plateau lakes of Yunnan Province, and analyze the effect of temperature on A. cantonensis during 1991-2010.

Methods: An epidemiological investigation of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis in Erhai Lake, Fuxian Lake and Xingyun Lake was conducted from April to September in 2012.

Molecular characterization, polymorphism and association of porcine SPATA19 gene.

Spermatogenesis associated 19 (SPATA19) is an important reproduction related gene. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of porcine SPATA19 gene through the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The porcine SPATA19 gene encodes a protein of 154 amino acids which shares high homology with the SPATA19 of ten species: giant panda (87 %), dog (86 %), cattle (84 %), rabbit (78 %), sumatran orangutan (72 %), human (71 %), rhesus monkey (71 %), chimpanzee (70 %), mouse (71 %) and rat (69 %).

A novel porcine gene, POT1, differentially expressed in the longissimus muscle tissues from Wujin and Large White pigs.

The mRNA differential display technique was performed to investigate the differences of gene expression in the longissimus muscle tissues from Wujin and Large White pigs. One novel gene differentially expressed was identified through quantitative real time PCR and the cDNA complete sequence was then obtained using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The nucleotide sequence of the gene is not homologous to any of the known porcine genes.

Service users' personal experience and interpretation of mental illness: oriental narratives.

Background: Service users' perception of mental illness is vital because it points out a viable direction that practitioners can follow to fully understand service users in their own sociocultural context.

Material: Qualitative research findings include mental health service users' roles and identities, their perceptions of mental illness and their personal experiences of psychiatric stigma.

Discussion: While there are similar phenomena regarding mental illness stigma between East and West, there are culturally distinctive characteristics found in Taiwan.

Study on precipitation of struvite and struvite-K crystal in goats during onset of urolithiasis.

To learn more about the biomineralization process of struvite in ruminants, a seldom noticeable crystal, struvite-K, was investigated in six goats in which urolithiasis was induced by feeding a cottonseed meal and rice straw diet supplemented with MgO. The compositions of crystals and calculi were studied by chemical qualitative analysis and X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The activity product (AP) and relative supersaturation (RSS) of magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) and potassium magnesium phosphate (MKP) were calculated to compare the difference of crystals formed in this process.

The chemical composition and ultrastructure of uroliths in Boer goats.

The chemical composition and ultrastructure of urinary calculi obtained from male Boer goats were studied using qualitative chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. The calculi came from 10 naturally-occurring cases of urolithiasis and from seven cases of urolithiasis experimentally-induced by feeding a cottonseed meal-rice straw diet supplemented with magnesium oxide. The results indicated that the major component of urinary calculi collected from naturally-occurring and experimentally-induced cases of urolithiasis was struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).

[Developmental expression changes of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) system genes in longissimus dorsi muscle of two pig breeds].

Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was applied to investigate the developmental expression patterns of insulin like growth factor-1 and -2 (IGF-1 and -2), insulin like growth factor receptor -1 and -2 (IGF-1R and -2R), insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 and -5 (IGFBP-3 and -5) genes at the age of birth (0), 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months in longissimus dorsi muscle of Landrace and Meishan pigs. The expression level of IGF-1 exhibited up-regulation, in contrast, the expression level of IGF-2 showed down-regulation after birth in the two pig breeds. These findings are consistent with the previous knowledge that IGF-2 is mainly expressed during the embryonic phase, IGF-1 is mainly expressed during the postnatal period, which could promote cell proliferation and ontogenesis.

Comparison of effect of high intake of magnesium with high intake of phosphorus and potassium on urolithiasis in goats fed with cottonseed meal diet.

The effect of high intake of Mg on urolithiasis was compared with high intake of P and K in goats being fed with a cottonseed meal and rice straw diet. Eighteen wether goats were randomly allocated into group A, B and C evenly and fed with cottonseed meal and rice straw diet for three months. From day 60 onwards, KH(2)PO(4) and K(2)HPO(4) were provided via drinking water to goats in group B to increase the intake of P, K, and MgO to goats in group C to increase the intake of Mg.

[Identification of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus regulation sequence in 3'-untranslated region].

Based on our established infectious clone of PRRSV, designated as pCBC2, a series of mutagenesis of 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) at primary structure and secondary structure level were constructed. Then the full length mutant clones were transfected into MARC-145 cells, from which the influences of the discrete 3'-UTR mutation on PRRSV replication and transcription were analyzed. The properties of the rescued mutant viruses were then further characterized by Northern Blot and plaque morphology analysis.

The injury effect of oxygen free radicals in vitro on cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells from broilers.

Pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were isolated from broilers by the method of tissue explantation. The cells were identified using morphological features and immunocytochemical staining using a specific antiserum against factor VIII related antigen. Xanthine/Xanthine oxidase (X/XO) served as the oxygen free radical (OFR) generating system.

L-arginine prevents reduced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in pulmonary arterioles of broilers exposed to cool temperatures.

This study investigated nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the endothelium of pulmonary arterioles of broilers during the development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). PHS was triggered by exposing broilers to sub-thermoneutral (cool) temperatures and an additional 1.0% L-arginine was added to the basal diet to evaluate the effects of supplemental L-arginine on nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial NOS expression, and the incidence of PHS.

cDNA cloning and functional analysis of goose interleukin-2.

cDNA encoding goose IL-2 (GoIL-2) was cloned from Con A-stimulated goose splenic mononuclear cells (SMC) using oligonucleotide primers based on the conserved sequence of duck (DuIL-2), chicken (ChIL-2) and turkey IL-2s (TuIL-2). The GoIL-2 cDNA is 718nt long, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 423 base pairs encoding a protein of 141 aa. The GoIL-2 shows, respectively, 79%, 82-85%, and 91-92% identities with TuIL-2, ChIL-2 and DuIL-2 in cDNA, and also shows, respectively, 63%, 63-64%, and 82-85% identities with TuIL-2, ChIL-2 and DuIL-2 in amino acid sequence.

Cloning, in vitro expression and bioactivity of duck interleukin-2.

In this report, the cDNA sequences of Shaoxing (SX) and Muscovy (MV) duck IL-2 were cloned, then recombinant duck IL-2 (rduIL-2) was produced in prokaryotic expression system. In vitro bioactivity of rduIL-2 was determined by lymphocyte proliferation assay and in vivo bioactivity of rduIL-2 was assessed by vaccine immunization. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) specific for rduIL-2 were generated and characterized by ELISA, Western blot and neutralizing assays.

Generation of the transgenic potato expressing full-length spike protein of infectious bronchitis virus.

To seek a new delivery system of vaccine for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), transgenic potato expressing full-length spike (S) protein of IBV was produced and its immunogenicity in chickens was investigated. One to three copies of S gene of IBV were randomly and stably inserted into potato (Solanum tuberrosum cv. Dongnong 303) genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation.