Genomic insights into Yak (Bos grunniens) adaptations for nutrient assimilation in high-altitudes.

High-altitude environments present formidable challenges for survival and reproduction, with organisms facing limited oxygen availability and scarce nutrient resources. The yak (Bos grunniens), indigenous to the Tibetan Plateau, has notably adapted to these extreme conditions. This study delves into the genomic basis of the yak's adaptation, focusing on the positive selection acting on genes involved in nutrient assimilation pathways. Employing techniques in comparative genomics and molecular evolutionary analyses, we selected genes in the yak that show signs of positive selection associated with nutrient metabolism, absorption, and transport. Our findings reveal specific genetic adaptations related to nutrient metabolism in harsh climatic conditions. Notably, genes involved in energy metabolism, oxygen transport, and thermoregulation exhibited signs of positive selection, suggesting their crucial role in the yak's successful colonization of high-altitude regions. The study also sheds light on the yak's immune system adaptations, emphasizing genes involved in response to various stresses prevalent at elevated altitudes. Insights into the yak's genomic makeup provide valuable information for understanding the broader implications of high-altitude adaptations in mammalian evolution. They may contribute to efforts in enhancing livestock resilience to environmental challenges.

The Biomarker Toolkit - an evidence-based guideline to predict cancer biomarker success and guide development.

BACKGROUND: An increased number of resources are allocated on cancer biomarker discovery, but very few of these biomarkers are clinically adopted. To bridge the gap between Biomarker discovery and clinical use, we aim to generate the Biomarker Toolkit, a tool designed to identify clinically promising biomarkers and promote successful biomarker translation. METHODS: All features associated with a clinically useful biomarker were identified using mixed-methodology, including systematic literature search, semi-structured interviews, and an online two-stage Delphi-Survey. Validation of the checklist was achieved by independent systematic literature searches using keywords/subheadings related to clinically and non-clinically utilised breast and colorectal cancer biomarkers. Composite aggregated scores were generated for each selected publication based on the presence/absence of an attribute listed in the Biomarker Toolkit checklist. RESULTS: Systematic literature search identified 129 attributes associated with a clinically useful biomarker. These were grouped in four main categories including: rationale, clinical utility, analytical validity, and clinical validity. This checklist was subsequently developed using semi-structured interviews with biomarker experts (n=34); and 88.23% agreement was achieved regarding the identified attributes, via the Delphi survey (consensus level:75%, n=51). Quantitative validation was completed using clinically and non-clinically implemented breast and colorectal cancer biomarkers. Cox-regression analysis suggested that total score is a significant driver of biomarker success in both cancer types (BC: p>0.0001, 95.0% CI: 0.869-0.935, CRC: p>0.0001, 95.0% CI: 0.918-0.954). CONCLUSIONS: This novel study generated a validated checklist with literature-reported attributes linked with successful biomarker implementation. Ultimately, the application of this toolkit can be used to detect biomarkers with the highest clinical potential and shape how biomarker studies are designed/performed.

Effect of phased reduction of dietary digestible lysine density on growth performance, thigh meat, and biomechanical characteristics of tibia in broiler chickens.

In this study, growth performance, nutrient intake, thigh meat quality, fatty acid composition of thigh meat, and biomechanical characteristics of tibia of broiler chickens in response to phased restriction of dietary digestible lysine (dLys) were evaluated. A total of 180 male broiler chickens distributed to 3 experimental groups were fed control diets, 85% dLys diet in grower phase (GRO 85% dLys), or 85% dLys diets in grower and finisher phases (GRO-FIN 85% dLys). Feeding 85% dLys suppressed the feed intake that suppressed the growth performance, slaughter weight, and thigh weight of broiler chickens compared to control group (P < 0.05). Average daily dLys, Ca, and P intakes were suppressed in groups fed 85% dLys diets in comparison with control group (P < 0.05) due to the suppression of feed intake. While most fatty acid concentrations in thigh meat were not different among the groups, eicosanoic acid (C20:0) in thigh meat was greater in GRO-FIN 85% dLys group than control group (P = 0.002). Antioxidant status of thigh meat of broiler chickens was not affected by the phased restriction of dietary dLys compared to control group. Bone breaking strength and ultimate strength were greater in control group than 85% dLys groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, phased dilution of dietary dLys to 85% of the required allowance yields weaker legs and tibia bones by suppressing the Ca and P intakes as a function of reduced feed intake in broiler chickens.

Impact of litter on femur and tibial morphology, bone biomechanics, and leg health parameters in broiler chickens.

OBJECTIVE: In this study effects of three types of beddings on broiler leg health and bone biomechanics were evaluated. METHODS: A total of 504 male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly placed on three beddings (4 replicates/group; 42 birds/pen), zeolite-added litter (ZL), plastic-grid flooring (PF), and wood shavings (WS). On day 42, chickens were weighed, slaughtered, and samples (bone, muscle, and drumstick) were collected. Bones were subjected to leg health tests, morphometric measurements, biomechanical testing, and ash analysis. RESULTS: Broilers in PF and WS groups showed higher live weight than the ZL group (p<0.001), and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) and varus valgus deformity due to distal bending was significantly higher in PF (p<0.001). Multinomial logistic regression showed that bedding has a significant (p = 0.038) contribution toward the development of TD. Tibial strength (p = 0.040), drumstick width (p = 0.001), and total femur and epiphyseal ash contents (p = 0.044, 0.016) were higher in the ZL group. Chicken live weight was correlated with tibial length and weight (r = 0.762, 0.725). CONCLUSION: Flooring and the type of bedding material directly affect broiler bone length, strength and leg health. Plastic bedding improves the slaughter weight of chickens on the expense of leg deformities, and zeolite litter improves leg health and bone strength.

Impact of environmental triggers on students' behavior to use ride-sharing services: the moderating role of perceived risk.

Ride-sharing services are a sustainable form of the transportation system that needs to be popularized among students by examining the crucial factors that determine the students' behavior to use the innovative service. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore students' behavior regarding the use of ride-sharing services by extending the "Technology Acceptance Model." The expanded model includes the current TAM structures and integrates contextual stimuli that may or may not affect the ride-sharing service's behavior. Moreover, the study focuses on determining the moderating role of perceived risk between the proposed relationships. The paper uses PLS-SEM to analyze the research model and determine the results of the hypotheses. The findings of this research are useful for ride-sharing service providers and policymakers who can promote the services among students by reducing the perceived risks and promoting the environmental benefits of ride-sharing. Furthermore, the limitations of this paper pose future research directions.

Association of sleep-wake pattern with cognitive performance and academic achievement in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of sleep wake pattern with cognitive performance and academic achievement in young adults. Method: It was a cross sectional study conducted in March 2019 after approval from the Institutional Review Board & Ethics Committee of the study setting on February 28, 2019. Total sample of the study was 189 calculated by using Rao software. Inclusion criteria was healthy young adults of age 18 to 24 years from Doctor of Physical Therapy department of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Dar-ul-Shifa campus, Islamabad. Exclusion criteria included all those students who were married, diagnosed with psychological disorder and were taking any sedatives. Data was collected through three questionnaires named Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) in addition to inquiry regarding GPA of latest exam. RESULTS: A total sample was 236 students with a mean age of 20.94±1.58 years with range 18-24 years. The sample comprised of males n=24 (10.2%) and females n=212(89.8%). Mean GPA was 3.10±0.53. MOCA showed that 70(29.66%) students had mild cognitive impairment, 166(70.34%) were students with normal cognition. The results obtained by applying independent T-test showed a significant difference of cognition between high and low achievers (p-value: 0.029<0.05. Students who scored high were definite morning types. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between cognitive performance and academic achievement with high achievers being definite morning types.

Polyethylene glycol capped copper ferrite porous nanostructured materials for efficient photocatalytic degradation of bromophenol blue.

Three different types (blank, annealed, and functionalized) of copper ferrite nanoparticles (CuFe2O4) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The CuFe2O4 NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. FTIR analysis confirmed that 3-APTES is successfully grafted on the surface of CuFe2O4 NPs. XRD results show the amorphous nature of blank CuFe2O4 NPs, and crystalline structure was observed for annealed and functionalized CuFe2O4 NPs. XRD results revealed that crystallite size ranges from 23.6 to 34.6 nm. SEM micrographs of blank CuFe2O4 NPs show the irregular shape and size of the nanostructure. The spherical and strongly linked structure was seen in the micrograph of functionalized CuFe2O4 NPs. EDX analysis revealed the nanostructure composed of Fe, Cu, O, and a small percentage of Si. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of synthesized CuFe2O4 NPs was examined under UV irradiation in an aqueous medium against bromophenol blue (BPB) dye. The effect of different parameters such as irradiation time and pH on the photodegradation of BPB dye was studied by all three types of CuFe2O4 photocatalyst. Results show that the maximum photocatalytic degradation efficiency was observed for functionalized CuFe2O4 nanoparticles that degraded 98% of BPB dye in the acidic medium at pH = 1. The optimum contact time for dye degradation was 120 min by synthesized photocatalyst. Photodegradation performance of blank and annealed CuFe2O4 NPs is less than 90%. The synthesized CuFe2O4 NPs were recycled and reused, which shows good photocatalytic degradation efficiency up to 4 consecutive cycles. The kinetic model displayed that degradation reaction followed pseudo 1st order kinetics. The blank, annealed, and functionalized CuFe2O4 NPs have turnover numbers of 10.7x10 (Mudhoo et al., 2019), 12.9x10 (Mudhoo et al., 2019), and 22.2x10 (Mudhoo et al., 2019) (kg-1 sec-1) accordingly. In conclusion, all results revealed the high efficiency of prepared photocatalyst for tested hazardous dye from wastewater and encouraged more work on photodegradation of organic pollutants from wastewater.

Financial development, international trade, and environmental degradation: a nonlinear threshold model based on panel smooth transition regression.

Environmental degradation has severely affected the natural cycle of ecosystem. It's high time now and humans should execute strategies effectively to protect the further degradation. Initially, we need to understand the ways that might affect the environment. Thus, existing research is designed to explore the nonlinear association between financial development (FD) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) in the context of low-income countries by employing the yearly data of 1990-2016. The panel smooth transition regression model (PSTR) is applied, and the result confirmed that the nexus between the two variables are nonlinear. Moreover, it also shows that at a low regime, FD increases the CO2 emissions but as the economy of low-income states progress to the high regime, the association between the two variables becomes negative and significant. The study also confirms that FD can reduce CO2 emissions once it reaches a certain threshold point. Based on these findings, new insights are provided for the policymakers, and several policies are suggested to improve the environmental quality in low-income countries.

Residential energy environmental Kuznets curve in emerging economies: the role of economic growth, renewable energy consumption, and financial development.

The aim of the present paper is to determine residential energy environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in Next-11 and BRICS countries with the specific consideration on the role of economic growth, renewable energy consumption, and financial development from an era of 1990-2015. In order to determine the cross-section independence and to control the heterogeneity between cross-sections in the paper, we have applied unique and advanced techniques of econometrics panel data. Moreover, the following tests have been applied which are the CIPS unit root test, co-integration test, fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), and heterogeneous panel causality technique. The outcomes revealed that in the long run, all the variables are co-integrated. Moreover, there is a significant and positive influence of residential energy consumption, economic growth, and financial development on environmental degradation. However, in the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, essential role is performed by renewable energy. On the other hand, findings show great support for the residential energy EKC hypothesis in emerging countries.

Extraction optimization of medicinally important metabolites from Datura innoxia Mill.: an in vitro biological and phytochemical investigation.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to probe the impact of polarity dependent extraction efficiency variation on pharmacological spectrum of Datura innoxia Mill. in order to reconnoiter its underexplored therapeutic potential. METHODS: A range of solvent extracts was subjected to phytochemical and biological assays to find the most proficient solvent system and plant part for each type of bioactivity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined colorimetrically and specific polyphenols were quantified by HPLC-DAD analysis. The samples were biologically evaluated by employing multimode antioxidant, cytotoxic, protein kinase inhibition and antimicrobial assays. RESULTS: Among all the solvents used, maximum percent extract recovery (33.28 %) was obtained in aqueous leaf extract. The highest amount of gallic acid equivalent phenolic and quercetin equivalent flavonoid content was obtained in the distilled water and ethyl acetate-ethanol extracts of leaf i.e., 29.91 ± 0.12 and 15.68 ± 0.18 mg/g dry weight (DW) respectively. Reverse phase HPLC-DAD based quantification revealed the presence of significant amounts of catechin, caffiec acid, apigenin and rutin ranging from 0.16 to 5.41 mg/g DW. Highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 16.14 µg/ml) was displayed by the ethyl acetate-acetone stem extract. Maximum total antioxidant capacity and reducing power potential were recorded in the aqueous leaf and ethyl acetate stem extracts i.e., 46.98 ± 0.24 and 15.35 ± 0.61 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g DW respectively. Cytotoxicity against brine shrimps categorized 25 % of the leaf, 16 % of the stem and 8.3 % of the fruit extracts as highly potent (LC50 ≤ 100 µg/ml). Significant cytotoxicity against human leukemia (THP-1) cell line was exhibited by the chloroform and n-hexane fruit extracts with IC50 4.52 and 3.49 µg/ml respectively. Ethyl acetate and methanol-chloroform extracts of leaf and stem exhibited conspicuous protein kinase inhibitory activity against Streptomyces 85E strain with 22 mm bald phenotype. A noteworthy antimicrobial activity was exhibited by leaf extracts against Micrococcus luteus and n-hexane fruit extract against Aspergillus niger (MIC 3.70 and 12.5 µg/ml respectively). CONCLUSION: Multiple solvent system is a crucial variable to retrieve pharmacological potential of medicinal plants and D. innoxia can be envisaged as a novel source of natural antioxidants, antimicrobials and anticancer compounds.

Accurate monitoring and fault detection in wind measuring devices through wireless sensor networks.

Many wind energy projects report poor performance as low as 60% of the predicted performance. The reason for this is poor resource assessment and the use of new untested technologies and systems in remote locations. Predictions about the potential of an area for wind energy projects (through simulated models) may vary from the actual potential of the area. Hence, introducing accurate site assessment techniques will lead to accurate predictions of energy production from a particular area. We solve this problem by installing a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to periodically analyze the data from anemometers installed in that area. After comparative analysis of the acquired data, the anemometers transmit their readings through a WSN to the sink node for analysis. The sink node uses an iterative algorithm which sequentially detects any faulty anemometer and passes the details of the fault to the central system or main station. We apply the proposed technique in simulation as well as in practical implementation and study its accuracy by comparing the simulation results with experimental results to analyze the variation in the results obtained from both simulation model and implemented model. Simulation results show that the algorithm indicates faulty anemometers with high accuracy and low false alarm rate when as many as 25% of the anemometers become faulty. Experimental analysis shows that anemometers incorporating this solution are better assessed and performance level of implemented projects is increased above 86% of the simulated models.