Effects of vegetation type differences induced by human disturbance on the nutrition strategy and gut microbiota of Siberian roe deer.

The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a widely distributed ungulate in northeast China. Due to a series of human disturbance activities such as large-scale forest cutting, deforestation and reclamation, road construction in the past, the appearance and internal structure of forest vegetation in the habitat of Siberian roe have changed significantly. At the same time, Siberian roe population had a series of ecological adaptation responses in the face of such habitat changes. Therefore, two typical vegetation types with differences were selected in the Muling Forest, China. We used nutritional ecology and microbial metagenomic analysis techniques to compare the nutritional selection strategy and the structure and functional characteristics of faecal microbiota of Siberian roe groups in two vegetation types. The results showed that the α diversity of dietary and gut microbes of deer in Natural Forest was higher than that in Plantation Forest. However, the gut microbes of the Plantation Forest group contained more unique enzymes in the functional pathways of carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids. This study suggests that habitat type is associated with plant community composition, and contributes to changes in the intake proportions of major macronutrients by altering the availability, quality, and composition of certain edible plants. Feeding behaviour may be an important regulatory factor of gut microbiota structure and function of deer. The metabolic function of gut microbiota to different nutrients may affect the microbial community structure. Therefore, our results suggest that the gut microbes of Siberian roe may have coevolved with their diets, and reflect the adaptability of deer populations to environmental changes (e.g., vegetation type). Our study provides new insights into how spatial heterogeneity affects nutrition and microecosystems by describing the interactions among the environment, diet, and symbiotic gut microbes in wild ungulates.

NL-1 Promotes PINK1-Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy Through MitoNEET Inhibition in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

NL-1 is a mitoNEET ligand known for its antileukemic effects and has recently shown neuroprotective effects in an ischemic stroke model. However, its underlying process in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is still unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of NL-1 after SAH in rats. 112 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used for experiments. SAH model was performed with endovascular perforation. Rats were dosed intraperitoneally (i.p.) with NL-1 (3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg) or a vehicle (10% DMSO aqueous solution) at 1 h after SAH. A novel mitophagy inhibitor liensinine (60 mg/kg) was injected i.p. 24 h before SAH. SAH grades, short-term and long-term neurological scores were measured for neurobehavior. TdTmediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and western blot measurements were used to detect the outcomes and mechanisms of NL-1 administration. NL-1 treatment significantly improved short-term neurological behavior in Modified Garcia and beam balance sores in comparison with SAH + vehicle group. NL-1 administration also increased mitoNEET which induced phosphatase and tensin-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin and LC3II related mitophagy compared with SAH + vehicle group. In addition, the expressions of apoptotic protein Cleaved Caspase-3 and oxidative stress related protein Romo1 in NL-1 treatment group were reversed from SAH + vehicle group. Meanwhile, NL-1 treatment notably reduced TUNEL-positive cells, DHE-positive cells compared with SAH + vehicle group. NL-1 treatment notably improved long-term neurological behavior in rotarod and water maze tests compared to SAH + vehicle group. However, the administration of liensinine may inhibit the treatment effect of NL-1, leading to reduced expression of mitophagy markers Pink1, Parkin, LC3I/II, and increased expressions of Romo1 and Cleaved Caspase-3. NL-1 induced PINK1/PARKIN related mitophagy via mitoNEET, which reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis in early brain injury after SAH in rats. NL-1 may serve as a prospective drug for the treatment of SAH.

Integrative analysis of the expression and prognosis for CENPs in ovarian cancer.

Centromere proteins (CENPs) are nuclear proteins that are involved in centromere formation and chromosome segregation during mitosis. Some members of CENPs have been extensively studied in the initiation and development of cancers. However, the expression patterns and exact roles of CENPs in ovarian cancer (OC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we comprehensively assessed the genetic variation, expression patterns and prognostic value of CENPs in OC by several databases. The mRNA expression levels of CENPA/F/H/L/N/U/W were found to be significantly upregulated in OC and related to worse prognosis. Additionally, function enrichment analysis showed that CENPs were involved in DNA repair and cell division. Meanwhile, immune infiltration analysis elucidated that CENPs were associated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC). These results suggested that CENPs might serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and provide new insights for the development of CENPs-targeted therapeutics for ovarian cancer.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Ten-Biomarker Risk Classifier for Survival Evaluation in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and TRPM2: A Potential Therapeutic Target of Ovarian Cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological malignant tumor. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an important role in the malignant behaviors of several tumors. In this study, we established a risk classifier based on 10 differentially expressed genes related to ER stress to evaluate the prognosis of patients and help to develop novel medical decision-making for EOC cases. A total of 378 EOC cases with transcriptome data from the TCGA-OV public dataset were included. Cox regression analysis was used to establish a risk classifier based on 10 ER stress-related genes (ERGs). Then, through a variety of statistical methods, including survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methods, the prediction ability of the proposed classifier was tested and verified. Similar results were confirmed in the GEO cohort. In the immunoassay, the different subgroups showed different penetration levels of immune cells. Finally, we conducted loss-of-function experiments to silence TRPM2 in the human EOC cell line. We created a 10-ERG risk classifier that displays a powerful capability of survival evaluation for EOC cases, and TRPM2 could be a potential therapeutic target of ovarian cancer cells.

Analysis of codon usage bias in the VP1 gene of the human norovirus GII.2 genotype.

To investigate the codon usage patterns of all available VP1 gene sequences of the GII.2 genotype, to determine the factors that affect these patterns, and to provide comprehensive details of the characteristics and evolution of the gene. Complete 519 sequences of VP1 gene of the HuNoV GII.2 genotype with known sampling dates and geographic locations from 1971 - 2017 were retrieved from the GenBank nucleotide database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and analyzed. The percentage composition of T, C, A, and G nucleotides were 24.80 ± 0.30, 26.61 ± 0.31, 25.84 ± 0.13, and 22.75 ± 0.17 %, respectively, with C and A relatively more abundant than T and G, and C the most abundant (p < 0.0001). The values of T3s (34.10 ± 0.90 %) and C3s (33.54 ± 0.90 %) were significantly higher than those of A3s (29.98 ± 0.43 %) and G3s (24.13 ± 0.51 %) (p < 0.0001). While T3s was highest among the four nucleotides, G3s was the lowest. Among the 18 most frequently employed synonymous codons, six optional codons ended with T, five ended with C, five ended with A and two ended with G. Codons ending with T were the most frequently used. The ENC ranged from 51.90 to 54.25 (mean = 52.38 ± 0.43) among the 519 VP1 gene sequences. There were significant correlations between ENC and C % and G % (p < 0.01). Codons containing CpG (1 and 2 or 2 and 3 codon positions) showed the lowest frequencies, while 30, 29, and 2 codons were above, below and on the mean line, respectively. The first four principal components accounted for 69.11 % of the total variation, with the first, second, third, and fourth principal axes contributing 37.90, 14.83, 9.61, and 6.77 %, respectively. The strains were not clustered by country of isolation or year of sampling. Gravy were significantly correlated with T3s, C3s, G3s, GC3s, and ENC (p < 0.01). Mutation pressure and natural selection contributed to the codon usage bias of the VP1 gene of the HuNoV GII.2 genotype. There was a correlation between GC12s and GC3s (R2 = 0.032; p < 0.0001). The relative neutrality was 3.20 %, while natural selection was 96.80 %. The VP1 gene exhibits low codon usage bias which is affected primarily by natural selection, followed by mutation pressure and translational selection.

Lead induces Siberian tiger fibroblast apoptosis by interfering with intracellular homeostasis.

Lead (Pb2+) is a poisonous heavy metal that causes many pathophysiological effects in living systems. Its toxicological effects are well known as it causes apoptosis of several cell types and tissues. This study aimed to determine the criteria required for early diagnosis of Pb2+ poisoning in the Siberian tiger using a tiger population in China, to identify a safety Pb2+ concentration threshold, and to provide suggestions for preventing Pb2+ poisoning in Siberian tigers. We investigated the apoptotic effects of Pb2+ (0, 32, 64, and 125 µM) for 12-48 h on Siberian tiger fibroblasts in vitro. Typical apoptotic effects were observed after Pb2+ exposure. Pb2+ strongly blocked DNA synthesis in the G0/G1 phase and induced cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Intracellular free calcium (Ca2+) levels, reactive oxygen species levels, and efflux of extracellular Ca2+ were increased. The mitochondrial membrane potential was lowered. Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were increased when fibroblasts were treated with 32, 64, and 125 µM Pb2+. The gene expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, -8, Fas, and p53 were increased, while that of Bcl-2 was decreased. Calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function were disturbed. Ca2+ efflux, oxidative damage, activation of caspases, and regulation of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, -8, Fas, and p53 gene expression played an important role in the apoptotic effects. The disorder of intracellular homeostasis was the trigger for apoptosis in Siberian tiger fibroblasts.

Low-frequency band gap of locally resonant phononic crystals with a dual-base plate.

To achieve a wider band gap and a lower cut-on frequency, a locally resonant phononic crystal (LRPC) with a dual-base plate is investigated in this paper. Compared with the LRPC with a single plate, the band structure of the LRPC with a dual-base plate is calculated using the method of plane wave expansion and verified by the finite element method. According to the analysis of the band curves of the LRPC with a dual-base plate, the mechanisms are explained. Next, the influences of the thickness of the plates, the stiffness of the springs, the mass of resonators, and the lattice constant are also investigated. The results show that the structural asymmetry between the upper and the lower plate is conducive to reducing the cut-on frequency and broadening the band gap effectively. The results indicate a different approach for the application of LRPC in vibration and noise control.

Calf Spleen Extractive Injection (CSEI), a small peptides enriched extraction, induces human hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis via ROS/MAPKs dependent mitochondrial pathway.

Calf Spleen Extractive Injection (CSEI), a small peptides enriched extraction, performs immunomodulatory activity on cancer patients suffering from radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The present study aims to investigate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of CSEI in cells and tumor-xenografted mouse models. In HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells, CSEI reduced cell viability, enhanced apoptosis rate, caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, inhibited migration ability, and induced caspases cascade and mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation. CSEI significantly inhibited HepG2-xenografted tumor growth in nude mice. In cell and animal experiments, CSEI increased the activations of pro-apoptotic proteins including caspase 8, caspase 9 and caspase 3; meanwhile, it suppressed the expressions of anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and anti-oxidation proteins, such as nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and catalase (CAT). The enhanced phosphorylation of P38 and c-JunN-terminalkinase (JNK), and decreased phosphorylation of extra cellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERKs) were observed in CSEI-treated cells and tumor tissues. CSEI-induced cell viability reduction was significantly attenuated by N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (a ROS inhibitor) pretreatment. All data demonstrated that the upregulated oxidative stress status and the altered mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation contributed to CSEI-driven mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, CSEI exactly induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells via ROS/MAPKs dependent mitochondrial pathway.

Efficacy and safety of different inhaled corticosteroids for bronchopulmonary dysplasia prevention in preterm infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide, beclomethasone, or fluticasone propionate) in preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) for premature infants. METHOD: Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, Scopus, and Cochrane library, were searched from databases inception to January 2022 for eligible randomized controlled trials. Clinical outcomes such as BPD, mortality, BPD or death, adverse events, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, budesonide was significantly associated with a reduction in BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (RR 0.48; 95 % CI [0.38, 0.62]) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (RR 0.75; 95 % CI [0.63, 0.89]) compared with control treatments. Early longer duration inhalation of budesonide alone was associated with a lower risk of BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age and PDA compared with controls. Early shorter duration intratracheal instillation of budesonide with surfactant as vehicle was associated with a lower risk of BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age and all-cause mortality compared with surfactant. There was no statistically significant difference between budesonide and control groups regarding neurodevelopmental impairment. Beclomethasone and fluticasone propionate did not show any superior or inferior effect on clinical outcomes compared to control treatments. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that budesonide, especially intratracheal instillation of budesonide using surfactant as a vehicle, is a safe and effective option in preventing BPD for preterm infants. More well-design large-scale trials with long-term follow-ups are necessary to verify the present findings.

The clinical efficacy of single-hole punch excision combined with intralesional steroid injection for nodular keloid treatment: a self-controlled trial.

There are many methods to treat keloid, including various excision operations, laser, injection and radiotherapy. However, few studies have explored the effectiveness of single-hole punch excision in keloid treatment. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of lateral punch excision combined with intralesional steroid injection for keloid treatment through self-control trial. In this self-controlled trial, 50 patients meet the diagnosis of nodular keloid, and try to choose left-right symmetrical control, one skin lesion in the control group (50 skin lesionsin total) and the other in the observation group (50 skin lesions in total).The keloids in the treatment group were initially treated with punch excision combined with intralesional steroid injection, followed by injection treatment alone. Keloids in the control group received intralesional steroid injection alone. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) of the keloid before and after the punch excision was evaluated; the keloid scores at different time points and the number of injection treatments required in both groups were compared, and adverse reactions were observed. The effective rate of the observation group was 86.0%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (66.0%), and the recurrence rate of 22% was lower than that of the control group (χ2 = 4.141,63417), all of which were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). At the end of treatment, the VSS and total injection times in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t = 5.900,3.361), with statistical significance (P < 0.01). The combination of single-hole punch excision and intralesional steroid injection is an effective method to treat multiple nodular keloids, shortening the treatment course of tralesional steroid injection without obvious adverse reactions.

Livestock Depredation by Large Carnivores and Human-Wildlife Conflict in Two Districts of Balochistan Province, Pakistan.

Livestock herding is a vital practice in Balochistan, contributing to the economy and culture. The livestock sector is significant in Balochistan, providing 20% of the national stock. Large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes for centuries. The aim of the present research is to investigate the impacts of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and predator conservation in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human-carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, collecting data from 311 residents in a selected study area. Large predators in the study area preyed on a total of 876 livestock during a one-year period, including 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf is the leading predator, responsible for 66.3% of livestock depredation, followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%). The total economic loss was USD 78,694. Overall, 80% of respondents had a negative perception of wolves compared to 24.4% for caracals. Only 20.6% of respondents knew about the importance of conserving carnivores. Livestock depredation by carnivores in the study area created a negative perception of these animals among people. There is a lack of awareness about the importance of conserving carnivore species and their role in the ecosystem. This lack of understanding has ultimately led to detrimental effects on predator populations. It is imperative to raise awareness among people about the ecological significance of carnivores through community meetings, seminars in educational institutions, and providing basic education to herders about effective livestock guarding practices.

Process Investigation on Robust Electrospinning of Non-Aligned and Aligned Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanofiber Mats for Flexible Piezoelectric Sensors.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber mats have played a significant role in wearable electronic devices that have been in great demand in recent decades. Although manifold PVDFbased freely stacked or well-aligned nanofiber mats created via the electrospinning process have been demonstrated to achieve multisensory capabilities with high sensitivity and long detection range, rarely have any of them proved their ability with a stable process and accurate processing parameters. In this work, we successfully developed freely stacked and well-aligned PVDF nanofiber mats with diameters ranging from micrometers to nanometers, providing stable performance for wearable electronic devices. Through in-depth investigations into material preparation, electrospinning, and fiber collection processes, we revealed the relationship between the nanofiber morphology, ß-phase fraction, and piezoelectric output with various process parameters. Characterized by analytical methods, we have established a mature, reliable nanofiber mat fabrication system capable of mass-producing PVDF nanofibers with the required diameter and consistent properties. At 18 kV voltage and 60% RH humidity, the uniformity of the fiber diameter and ß-phase content was maintained in a favorable range. When the drum speed increased to 2000 r/s, the fiber orientation and ß-phase content increased. We assembled aligned PVDF nanofiber mats with conductive fabric in a flexible piezoelectric sensor that successfully monitored different body movements and produced an output voltage of 0.1 V. This study provides the necessary process parameters for the large-scale production of high-quality PVDF nanofiber mats and provides clear guidance for beginners in the field of nanofiber mat manufacturing.

Biological characterization of chicken mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly.

Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells derived from Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord (UCMSCs/UCMPCs) are multipotent, and can be differentiated in vitro into many cell types. Much work has been done on UCMSCs/UCMPCs from humans, mice, rabbits, and other mammals, but the relatively little literature has been published about these cells in chickens. In our work, we isolated USMSCs/USMPCs from chicken embryos. We characterized the isolated cells using immunofluorescence and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques. Primary UCMSCs/UCMPCs were subcultured to passage 30 and growth curves for each passage determined. The growth curves at different passages were all typically sigmoidal. Isolated UCMSCs/UCMPCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, myocardial cells, and neural cells, and we were able to detect characteristic CD44, CD29, CD73, and CD71 cell surface markers. Our results suggest that UCMSCs/UCMPCs isolated from chickens possess similar biological characteristics to those from other species. Their multi-lineage differentiation capabilities herald a probable application for cellular transplant therapy in tissue engineering.

Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from chicken bone marrow.

The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are multipotent stem cells, which can differentiate in vitro into many cell types. However, the vast majority of experimental materials were obtained from human, mouse, rabbit and other mammals, but rarely in poultry. So, in this study, Thirty- to sixty-day old chicken was chosen as experimental animal, to isolate and characterize BMSCs from them. To investigate the biological characteristics of chicken BMSCs, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR were used to detect the characteristic surface markers of BMSCs. Growth curves were drawn in accordance with cell numbers. To assess the differentiation capacity of the BMSCs, cells were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. The surface markers of BMSCs, CD29, CD44, CD31, CD34, CD71 and CD73, were detected by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR assays. The growth curves of different passages were all typically sigmoidal. Karyotype analysis showed that these in vitro cultured cells were genetically stable. In addition, BMSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. The results suggest that the BMSCs isolated from chicken possess similar biological characteristics with those separated from other species, and their multi-lineage differentiation potentiality herald a probable application for cellular transplant therapy in tissue engineering.

Construction of a full-length enriched cDNA library and preliminary analysis of expressed sequence tags from Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris.

In this study, a full-length enriched cDNA library was successfully constructed from Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, the most well-known wild Animal. Total RNA was extracted from cultured Bengal tiger fibroblasts in vitro. The titers of primary and amplified libraries were 1.28 × 106 pfu/mL and 1.56 × 109 pfu/mL respectively. The percentage of recombinants from unamplified library was 90.2% and average length of exogenous inserts was 0.98 kb. A total of 212 individual ESTs with sizes ranging from 356 to 1108 bps were then analyzed. The BLASTX score revealed that 48.1% of the sequences were classified as a strong match, 45.3% as nominal and 6.6% as a weak match. Among the ESTs with known putative function, 26.4% ESTs were found to be related to all kinds of metabolisms, 19.3% ESTs to information storage and processing, 11.3% ESTs to posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones, 11.3% ESTs to transport, 9.9% ESTs to signal transducer/cell communication, 9.0% ESTs to structure protein, 3.8% ESTs to cell cycle, and only 6.6% ESTs classified as novel genes. By EST sequencing, a full-length gene coding ferritin was identified and characterized. The recombinant plasmid pET32a-TAT-Ferritin was constructed, coded for the TAT-Ferritin fusion protein with two 6× His-tags in N and C-terminal. After BCA assay, the concentration of soluble Trx-TAT-Ferritin recombinant protein was 2.32 ± 0.12 mg/mL. These results demonstrated that the reliability and representativeness of the cDNA library attained to the requirements of a standard cDNA library. This library provided a useful platform for the functional genome and transcriptome research of Bengal tigers.

Smoking and the risk of atopic dermatitis: A two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered to be one of the most common chronic diseases. It has been shown that smoking is associated with atopic dermatitis, but previous studies were mainly observational, which may be biased. The present study conducted a 2-sample mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the causal relationship. The present study obtained data on "ever smoked" and "atopic dermatitis" from published large-scale genome-wide association studies. The data were obtained from the UK Biobank and BioBank Japan. Three methods were used to perform a 2-sample MR analysis and also performed sensitivity analysis. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) between smoking and AD calculated by MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and random-effects inverse variance weighting method were 1.096 (95% CI.756-1.587) and 1.159 (95% CI 1.040-1.292), respectively, 1.137 (95% CI .975-1.325). The inverse variance weighting method showed statistical significance between the 2 and a causal relationship between smoking and AD. In conclusion, the results of our MR analysis suggest that smoking is likely to affect the incidence of AD.

Landscape Dynamics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Cold Temperate Forest Moose Habitat in the Great Khingan Mountains, China.

The change in habitat pattern is one of the key factors affecting the survival of the moose population. The study of the habitat landscape pattern is the key to protecting the Chinese cold-temperate forest moose population and monitoring the global distribution of moose. Through the ecological risk assessment of the moose habitat landscape pattern in a cold-temperate forest, we hope to assess the strength of habitat resistance under stress factors. This study provides a theoretical basis for the protection of the moose population in the cold-temperate forest in China and the establishment of the cold-temperate forest national park. In the study, the MaxEnt model, landscape index calculation and ecological risk assessment model construction were used to analyze the field survey and infrared camera monitoring data from April 2014 to January 2023. The habitat suitability layer of the moose population in the Nanwenghe National Nature Reserve of the Great Khingan Mountains was calculated, and the range of the moose habitat was divided based on the logical threshold of the model. The landscape pattern index of the moose habitat was calculated by Fragstats software and a landscape ecological risk assessment model was established to analyze the landscape pattern and ecological risk dynamic changes of the moose habitat in 2015 and 2020. The results showed that under the premise of global warming, the habitat landscape contagion index decreased by 4.53 and the split index increased by 4.86 from 2015 to 2020. In terms of ecological risk: the area of low ecological risk areas increased by 0.88%; the area of medium ecological risk areas decreased by 1.11%; and the area of high ecological risk areas increased by 0.23%. The fragmentation risk of the landscape pattern of the moose habitat tends to increase, the preferred patch type is dispersed, the degree of aggregation is low, and the risk of patch type transformation increases. The middle and high ecological risk areas are mainly concentrated in the river area and its nearby forests, showing a fine and scattered distribution. Under the interference of global warming and human activities, the fragmentation trend of the moose habitat in the study area is increasing, and the habitat quality is declining, which is likely to cause moose population migration. For this reason, the author believes that the whole cold temperate forest is likely to face the risk of increasing the transformation trend of dominant patch types in the cold-temperate coniferous forest region mainly caused by global warming, resulting in an increase in the risk of habitat fragmentation. While the distribution range of moose is reduced, it has a significant impact on the diversity and ecological integrity of the whole cold-temperate forest ecosystem. This study provides theoretical references for further research on the impact of climate warming on global species distribution and related studies. It is also helpful for humans to strengthen their protection awareness of forest and river areas and formulate reasonable protection and sustainable development planning of cold-temperate forests. Finally, it provides theoretical references for effective monitoring and protection of cold-temperate forests and moose population dynamics.

The Effect of Landscape Environmental Factors on Gene Flow of Red Deer (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) in the Southern of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China.

Red deer (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) living in the north of China are restricted and threatened due to human activities and the changes in the natural environment, which influence the dispersal and effective gene flow between different groups of red deer. Effective gene flow plays an important role in maintaining genetic diversity and structure and ensuring population health. In order to evaluate the genetic diversity level and understand the gene flow between different red deer groups, 231 fresh fecal samples were collected from the southern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China. A microsatellite marker was used for genetic analysis. The results showed that the genetic diversity of red deer was intermediate in this region. Significant genetic differentiation among different groups was found in the main distribution area (p < 0.01) using F-statistics and the program STRUCTURE. Different degrees of gene flow existed in red deer groups, and the roads (importance = 40.9), elevation (importance = 38.6), and settlements (importance = 14.1) exerted main effects on gene flow between red deer groups. Human-made factors should be noticed and strictly supervised in this region to avoid excessive disturbance to the normal movement of the red deer. Further conservation and management of red deer should reduce the intensity of vehicular traffic in the concentrated distribution areas of red deer, especially during the heat season. This research helps us better understand the genetic level and health status of red deer in the southern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains and provides theoretical references for protecting and restoring the red deer populations in China.

Alterations in Fecal Microbiota Linked to Environment and Sex in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).

Gut microbiota play an important role in impacting the host's metabolism, immunity, speciation, and many other functions. How sex and environment affect the structure and function of fecal microbiota in red deer (Cervus elaphus) is still unclear, particularly with regard to the intake of different diets. In this study, non-invasive molecular sexing techniques were used to determine the sex of fecal samples from both wild and captive red deer during the overwintering period. Fecal microbiota composition and diversity analyses were performed using amplicons from the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq platform. Based on Picrust2 prediction software, potential function distribution information was evaluated by comparing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG). The results showed that the fecal microbiota of the wild deer (WF, n = 10; WM, n = 12) was significantly enriched in Firmicutes and decreased in Bacteroidetes, while the captive deer (CF, n = 8; CM, n = 3) had a significantly higher number of Bacteroidetes. The dominant species of fecal microbiota in the wild and captive red deer were similar at the genus level. The alpha diversity index shows significant difference in fecal microbiota diversity between the males and females in wild deer (p < 0.05). Beta diversity shows significant inter-group differences between wild and captive deer (p < 0.05) but no significant differences between female and male in wild or captive deer. The metabolism was the most important pathway at the first level of KEGG pathway analysis. In the secondary pathway of metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, energy metabolism, and the metabolism of other amino acids were significantly different. In summary, these compositional and functional variations in the fecal microbiota of red deer may be helpful for guiding conservation management and policy decision-making, providing important information for future applications of population management and conservation.