A sheep pangenome reveals the spectrum of structural variations and their effects on tail phenotypes.

Structural variations (SVs) are a major contributor to genetic diversity and phenotypic variations, but their prevalence and functions in domestic animals are largely unexplored. Here we generated high-quality genome assemblies for 15 individuals from genetically diverse sheep breeds using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) high-fidelity sequencing, discovering 130.3 Mb nonreference sequences, from which 588 genes were annotated. A total of 149,158 biallelic insertions/deletions, 6531 divergent alleles, and 14,707 multiallelic variations with precise breakpoints were discovered. The SV spectrum is characterized by an excess of derived insertions compared to deletions (94,422 vs. 33,571), suggesting recent active LINE expansions in sheep. Nearly half of the SVs display low to moderate linkage disequilibrium with surrounding single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and most SVs cannot be tagged by SNP probes from the widely used ovine 50K SNP chip. We identified 865 population-stratified SVs including 122 SVs possibly derived in the domestication process among 690 individuals from sheep breeds worldwide. A novel 168-bp insertion in the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of HOXB13 is found at high frequency in long-tailed sheep. Further genome-wide association study and gene expression analyses suggest that this mutation is causative for the long-tail trait. In summary, we have developed a panel of high-quality de novo assemblies and present a catalog of structural variations in sheep. Our data capture abundant candidate functional variations that were previously unexplored and provide a fundamental resource for understanding trait biology in sheep.

Long divergent haplotypes introgressed from wild sheep are associated with distinct morphological and adaptive characteristics in domestic sheep.

The worldwide sheep population comprises more than 1000 breeds. Together, these exhibit a considerable morphological diversity, which has not been extensively investigated at the molecular level. Here, we analyze whole-genome sequencing individuals of 1,098 domestic sheep from 154 breeds, and 69 wild sheep from seven Ovis species. On average, we detected 6.8%, 1.0% and 0.2% introgressed sequence in domestic sheep originating from Iranian mouflon, urial and argali, respectively, with rare introgressions from other wild species. Interestingly, several introgressed haplotypes contributed to the morphological differentiations across sheep breeds, such as a RXFP2 haplotype from Iranian mouflon conferring the spiral horn trait, a MSRB3 haplotype from argali strongly associated with ear morphology, and a VPS13B haplotype probably originating from urial and mouflon possibly associated with facial traits. Our results reveal that introgression events from wild Ovis species contributed to the high rate of morphological differentiation in sheep breeds, but also to individual variation within breeds. We propose that long divergent haplotypes are a ubiquitous source of phenotypic variation that allows adaptation to a variable environment, and that these remain intact in the receiving population probably due to reduced recombination.

Developing a Novel Prognostic Model Based on Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Types: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of Patients Who Received Radical Cystectomy and Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: To develop a prognostic model to manage patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data were collated from a North American database to develop a model. Genomic and clinicopathologic data were also obtained from European and Asian databases to externally validate the model. Patients were classified as either "primary" or "progressive" MIBC according to non-muscle invasive stage history. Optimized cancer-specific survival (CSS) models, based on MIBC types, were constructed using Cox's proportional hazard regression. Differences of biological function and tumor immunity, between two risk-based groups stratified according to the prognostic model, were estimated. RESULTS: There were 2631 participants in the American cohort, 291 in the European cohort and 142 in the Asian cohort. Under Cox's regression analysis, tumor stage, lymph node stage, age, ethnicity, and MIBC types were independent CSS predictors (all p < 0.05). The constructed nomogram, which integrated these variables, improved the predictive power. This model had good discrimination and calibration. Patients were categorized into high- or low-risk groups according to the total points calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that patients in the high-risk group had poorer survival (p < 0.001). This was confirmed with two external validation cohorts (both with p < 0.001). Higher stromal scores and increased M0 and M2 macrophage numbers were observed in samples from the high-risk group, whereas regulatory T cells had lower infiltration in these populations (all with p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This MIBC type-based nomogram provides accurate CSS predictions, which could help improve patient management and clinical decision-making.

Effect of FGFR alteration on prognosis in 1963 urothelial carcinoma patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Implying combination of FGFR inhibitor and immunotherapy for FGFR-altered urothelial carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are essential for urothelial carcinoma (UC) treatment. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) alterations, as common oncogenic drivers in UC, have been reported to drive T cell depletion of UC immune microenvironment via up-regulating FGFR signaling, which indicated FGFR alterations potentially result in reduced response to ICIs. In addition, the selective pan-FGFR inhibitor showed better clinical benefit in clinical trials, indicating FGFR has emerged as critical therapeutic target via inhibiting FGFR signaling. The present study aims to evaluate prognosis and response to ICIs between FGFR-altered UC patients and FGFR-wildtype UC patients via 1963 UC patients and offers new insights into personalized precision therapy and combination therapy for UC.

Different machine learning methods based on maxillary sinus in sex estimation for northwestern Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Sex estimation is a critical aspect of forensic expertise. Some special anatomical structures, such as the maxillary sinus, can still maintain integrity in harsh environmental conditions and may be served as a basis for sex estimation. Due to the complex nature of sex estimation, several studies have been conducted using different machine learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of sex prediction from anatomical measurements. MATERIAL & METHODS: In this study, linear data of the maxillary sinus in the population of northwest China by using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) were collected and utilized to develop logistic, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) models for sex estimation with R 4.3.1. CBCT images from 477 samples of Han population (75 males and 81 females, aged 5-17 years; 162 males and 159 females, aged 18-72) were used to establish and verify the model. Length (MSL), width (MSW), height (MSH) of both the left and right maxillary sinuses and distance of lateral wall between two maxillary sinuses (distance) were measured. 80% of the data were randomly picked as the training set and others were testing set. Besides, these samples were grouped by age bracket and fitted models as an attempt. RESULTS: Overall, the accuracy of the sex estimation for individuals over 18 years old on the testing set was 77.78%, with a slightly higher accuracy rate for males at 78.12% compared to females at 77.42%. However, accuracy of sex estimation for individuals under 18 was challenging. In comparison to logistic, KNN and SVM, RF exhibited higher accuracy rates. Moreover, incorporating age as a variable improved the accuracy of sex estimation, particularly in the 18-27 age group, where the accuracy rate increased to 88.46%. Meanwhile, all variables showed a linear correlation with age. CONCLUSION: The linear measurements of the maxillary sinus could be a valuable tool for sex estimation in individuals aged 18 and over. A robust RF model has been developed for sex estimation within the Han population residing in the northwestern region of China. The accuracy of sex estimation could be higher when age is used as a predictive variable.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Provokes Macrophages to Secrete IL-1ß Contributing to Atherosclerosis Progression.

Abnormally high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been reported to associate with cardiovascular diseases in prostate cancer patients with specific androgen deprivation therapy and in menopausal women. All of the cardiovascular diseases were involved in atherosclerosis. However, the pathogenic mechanism of FSH-associated atherosclerosis remains uncertain. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were chosen to develop atherosclerosis, of which the plaques were analyzed with administration of short- and long-term FSH imitating androgen deprivation therapy-induced and menopausal FSH elevation. The study showed that short- and long-term exposure of FSH significantly accelerated atherosclerosis progression in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, manifested as strikingly increased plaques in the aorta and its roots, increased macrophage content, reduced fibrin, and an enlarged necrotic core, suggesting a decrease in plaque stability. Furthermore, expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus GSE21545 dataset revealed that macrophage inflammation was tightly associated with FSH-induced atherosclerotic progression. The human monocyte cell line THP-1 was induced by PMA and worked as a macrophage model to detect inflammatory factors and cellular functions. FSH remarkably promoted the expression of IL-1ß in macrophages and strikingly increased the chemotactic migratory capacity of macrophages toward MCP-1, but the promigratory capacity of FSH was attenuated in foam cells. Overall, we revealed that FSH significantly promoted the inflammatory response and migration of macrophages, thereby provoking atherosclerosis development.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Provokes Macrophages to Secrete IL-1ß Contributing to Atherosclerosis Progression.

Abnormally high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been reported to associate with cardiovascular diseases in prostate cancer patients with specific androgen deprivation therapy and in menopausal women. All of the cardiovascular diseases were involved in atherosclerosis. However, the pathogenic mechanism of FSH-associated atherosclerosis remains uncertain. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were chosen to develop atherosclerosis, of which the plaques were analyzed with administration of short- and long-term FSH imitating androgen deprivation therapy-induced and menopausal FSH elevation. The study showed that short- and long-term exposure of FSH significantly accelerated atherosclerosis progression in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, manifested as strikingly increased plaques in the aorta and its roots, increased macrophage content, reduced fibrin, and an enlarged necrotic core, suggesting a decrease in plaque stability. Furthermore, expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus GSE21545 dataset revealed that macrophage inflammation was tightly associated with FSH-induced atherosclerotic progression. The human monocyte cell line THP-1 was induced by PMA and worked as a macrophage model to detect inflammatory factors and cellular functions. FSH remarkably promoted the expression of IL-1ß in macrophages and strikingly increased the chemotactic migratory capacity of macrophages toward MCP-1, but the promigratory capacity of FSH was attenuated in foam cells. Overall, we revealed that FSH significantly promoted the inflammatory response and migration of macrophages, thereby provoking atherosclerosis development.

Dynamics and regulatory role of circRNAs in Asian honey bee larvae following fungal infection.

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) plays a vital part in the regulation of immune responses, growth, and development in plants and animals. Here, the identification, characteristic analysis, and molecular verification of circRNAs in Apis cerana cerana worker larval guts were conducted, followed by in-depth investigation of the expression pattern of larval circRNAs during Ascosphaera apis infection and exploration of the potential regulatory part of differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in host immune responses. A total of 3178 circRNAs in the larval guts of A. c. cerana were identified, with a length distribution ranging from 15 to 96,007 nt. Additionally, 155, 95, and 86 DEcircRNAs were identified in the in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts following A. apis infection. These DEcircRNAs were predicted to target 29, 25, and 18 parental genes relevant to 12, 20, and 17 GO terms as well as 144, 114, and 61 KEGG pathways, including 5 cellular and 4 humoral immune pathways. Complex competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were detected as being formed among DEcircRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and DEmRNAs. The target DEmRNAs were engaged in 36, 47, and 47 GO terms as well as 331, 332, and 331 pathways, including 6 cellular and 6 humoral immune pathways. Further, 19 DEcircRNAs, 5 DEmiRNAs, and 3 mRNAs were included in the sub-networks relative to 3 antioxidant enzymes. Finally, back-splicing sites within 15 circRNAs and the difference in the 15 DEcircRNAs' expression between uninoculated and A. apis-inoculated larval guts were confirmed based on molecular methods. These findings not only enrich our understanding of bee host-fungal pathogen interactions but also lay a foundation for illuminating the mechanism underlying the DEcircRNA-mediated immune defense of A. c. cerana larvae against A. apis invasion. KEY POINTS: • The expression pattern of circRNAs was altered in the A. cerana worker larval guts following A. apis infection. • Back-splicing sites within 15 A. cerana circRNAs were verified using molecular approaches. DEcircRNAs potentially modulated immune responses and antioxidant enzymes in A. apis-challenged host guts.

Multiomics analysis revealed that the metabolite profile of raw milk is associated with lactation stage of dairy cows and could be affected by variations in the ruminal microbiota.

The nutritional components and quality of milk are influenced by the rumen microbiota and its metabolites at different lactation stages. Hence, rumen fluid and milk samples from 6 dairy cows fed the same diet were collected during peak, early mid- and later mid-lactation. Untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied for analyzing milk and rumen metabolites, as well as rumen microbial composition, respectively. The levels of lipid-related metabolites, L-glutamate, glucose-1-phosphate and acetylphosphate in milk exhibited lactation-dependent attenuation. Maltol, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and choline, which are associated with milk flavor or coagulation properties, as well as L-valine, lansioside-A, clitocine and ginsenoside-La increased significantly in early mid- and later mid-lactation, especially in later mid-lactation. The obvious increase in rumen microbial diversities (Ace and Shannon indices) were observed in early mid-lactation compared with peak lactation. Twenty-one differential bacterial genera of the rumen were identified, with Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001, Candidatus Saccharimonas, Fibrobacter, and SP3-e08 being significantly enriched in peak lactation. Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, Lachnospira, Butyrivibrio, Eubacterium_hallii_group, and Schwartzia were most significantly enriched in early mid-lactation. In comparison, only 2 bacteria (unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001) were enriched in later mid-lactation. For rumen metabolites, LPE(16:0), L-glutamate and L-tyrosine had higher levels in peak lactation, whereas PE(17:0/0:0), PE(16:0/0:0), PS(18:1(9Z)/0:0), L-phenylalanine, dulcitol, 2-(methoxymethyl)furan and 3-phenylpropyl acetate showed higher levels in early mid- and later mid-lactation. Multiomics integrated analysis revealed that a greater abundance of Fibrobacter contributed to phospholipid content in milk by increasing ruminal acetate, L-glutamate and LysoPE(16:0). Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and unclassified_f_Prevotellaceae provide substrates for milk metabolites of the same category by increasing ruminal L-phenylalanine and dulcitol contents. These results demonstrated that milk metabolomic fingerprints and critical functional metabolites during lactation, and the key bacteria in rumen related to them. These findings provide new insights into the development of functional dairy products.

Label-free-based proteomics analysis reveals differential proteins of sheep, goat and cow milk.

Regarding the limited information on species protein differences between sheep, goat, and cow milk, the differentially expressed proteins in sheep, goat, and cow milk and their functional differences are analyzed using label-free proteomics technology to identify potential biomarkers. 770 proteins and 2914 peptide segments were identified. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the relative abundances of the 74 proteins among the sheep, goat, and cow milk. CSN3 and LALBA can be used as potential biomarkers for goat milk, XDH can be used as potential biomarkers for cow milk, and CTSB and BPIFB1 can be used as potential biomarkers for sheep milk. The functional analysis using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed that these significantly different proteins were enriched by different pathways including thyroid hormone synthesis and glycerol phospholipid metabolism. The data revealed differences in the amounts and physiological functions of the milk proteins of different species, which may provide an important basis for research on the nutritional composition of dairy products and adulteration identification technology.

Diagnostic value of imaging in patients with clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma: A case series and literature review.

Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) is a newly classified renal cell carcinoma with a low degree of malignancy. Its imaging features have not been studied deeply. Therefore, we reviewed the imaging features of CCPRCC. Solid CCPRCC shows high echo or isoecho mass on conventional ultrasound. Contrast enhanced ultrasound shows "fast forward and slow backward, uneven high enhancement". Computed tomography shows high enhancement and maximum enhancement in the cortical-medullary phase. Magnetic resonance imaging shows slightly low T1WI and high T2WI. This article aims to improve the understanding of CCPRCC by clinical radiologists and promote the accurate.

Chemical-Assisted CO2 Water-Alternating-Gas Injection for Enhanced Sweep Efficiency in CO2-EOR.

CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) is a crucial method for CO2 utilization and sequestration, representing an important zero-carbon or even negative-carbon emission reduction technology. However, the low viscosity of CO2 and reservoir heterogeneity often result in early gas breakthrough, significantly reducing CO2 utilization and sequestration efficiency. A water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection is a technique for mitigating gas breakthrough and viscous fingering in CO2-EOR. However, it encounters challenges related to insufficient mobility control in highly heterogeneous and fractured reservoirs, resulting in gas channeling and low sweep efficiency. Despite the extensive application and research of a WAG injection in oil and gas reservoirs, the most recent comprehensive review dates back to 2018, which focuses on the mechanisms of EOR using conventional WAG. Herein, we give an updated and comprehensive review to incorporate the latest advancements in CO2-WAG flooding techniques for enhanced sweep efficiency, which includes the theory, applications, fluid displacement mechanisms, and control strategies of a CO2-WAG injection. It addresses common challenges, operational issues, and remedial measures in WAG projects by covering studies from experiments, simulations, and pore-scale modeling. This review aims to provide guidance and serve as a reference for the application and research advancement of CO2-EOR techniques in heterogeneous and fractured reservoirs.

Integrated Network Analysis to Determine CNN1, MYL9, TAGLN, and SORBS1 as Potential Key Genes Associated with Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is challenging to treat. It is necessary to screen for related biological markers to accurately predict the prognosis and recurrence of prostate cancer. METHODS: Three data sets, GSE28204, GSE30521, and GSE69223, from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were integrated into this study. After the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PCa and normal prostate tissues, network analyses including protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to select hub genes. Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to annotate the functions of DEGs and hub modules of the networks. Survival analysis was performed to validate the correlation between the key genes and PCa relapse. RESULTS: In total, 867 DEGs were identified, including 201 upregulated and 666 downregulated genes. Three hub modules of the PPI network and one hub module of the weighted gene co-expression network were determined. Moreover, four key genes (CNN1, MYL9, TAGLN, and SORBS1) were significantly associated with PCa relapse (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CNN1, MYL9, TAGLN, and SORBS1 may be potential biomarkers for PCa development.

Effect of regional versus general anesthesia on recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight retrospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Regional anesthesia appears to reduce cancer recurrence, but the optimal anesthesia modality for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were still under debate. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of regional and GA only upon the recurrence and long-term prognosis of NMIBC through this meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed an extensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (up to October 30, 2022) to identify eligible articles on the possible impact of different anesthetic modalities for the recurrence rate of NMIBC. RESULTS: Eight studies comprising 3764 participants, including 2117 subjects with RA and 1647 with GA, were finally enrolled. Cancer recurrence rate was significantly lower in subjects with RA than those with GA (RR 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.98, P = 0.03). We didn't detect the differences between GA and RA in the time of recurrence (SMD 2.07, 95% CI -0.49-4.63, P = 0.11) and cancer progression (RR 1.14, 95%CI 0.71-1.84, P = 0.59). Results from subgroup analysis demonstrated that spinal anesthesia could significantly decrease the incidence of cancer recurrence in comparison with general anesthesia (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.88, P < 0.001) and high-risk NMIBC patients who received RA tended to have less recurrence (HR 0.55, 95%CI 0.39-0.79, P = 0.001) than those receiving GA. CONCLUSIONS: RA, especially spinal anesthesia, may be effective in reducing the recurrence rate after transurethral resection of NMIBC. More prospective experimental and clinical studies are needed to validate our findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: INPLASY registration INPLASY2022110097.

Genital mycoplasma infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that genital mycoplasma infections may be associated with male infertility. However, this association remains controversial due to time lapse, sample size, and regional prevalence. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the relationship between genital mycoplasma and male infertility through a meta-analysis and to provide a basis for the clinical management of male infertility. METHODS: We conducted a search on PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases, from January 2000 to June 2023 to identify case-control studies on the interrelationship between genital mycoplasma infection and male infertility. Two independent researchers performed an assessment of the methodological quality of trials according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and extracted data strictly based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and afterward, we carried out a meta-analysis using Stata 16.0. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess this relationship. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 21 studies from seven countries with a total of 53025 infertility cases and 6435 controls; the age range of the participating men was from 20 to 59 years old. The results obtained showed a higher prevalence of M. genitalium, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections in infertile men than in the controls, with the opposite result for U. parvum (M. genitalium, OR, 3.438 [95% CI: 1.780, 6.643], with P = 0.000; M. hominis, OR, 1.840 [95% CI: 1.013, 3.343], with P = 0.045; U. urealyticum, OR, 3.278 [95% CI: 2.075, 5.180], with P = 0.000; U. parvum, OR, 1.671 [95% CI: 0.947, 2.950], with P = 0.077). Further, two subgroup analyses also showed that M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections were strongly associated with male infertility in China (M. hominis, P = 0.009; U. urealyticum, P = 0.000); however, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infection was not strongly associated with male infertility worldwide (M. hominis, P = 0.553; U. urealyticum, P = 0.050). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis revealed that male infertility was significantly associated with M. genitalium, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections, while U. parvum infection was not. Further, our study showed that genital mycoplasma infection influences male infertility and provides a basis for future treatment.

FecB mutation and litter size are associated with a 90-base pair deletion in BMPR1B in East Friesian and Hu crossbred sheep.

Litter size is a critical economic trait in livestock, but only a few studies have focused on associated indel mutations in BMPR1B, a key regulator of ovulation and litter size in sheep. We evaluated the effects of BMPR1B mutations on the reproductive performance of sheep. We used Hu, East Friesian, and East Friesian/Hu crossbred sheep as experimental subjects and identified a novel 90 bp deletion in BMPR1B, which coincides with the c.746A > G (FecB mutation) genotype. The correlation between the two loci and litter size was then evaluated. We identified three genotypes for the Del-90bp locus, namely, II, ID, and DD, and three genotypes for the c.746A > G locus, namely ++, B+, and BB. Both Del-90bp and c.746A > G significantly affected the litter size of Hu and East Friesian/Hu crossbred sheep. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed a strong linkage disequilibrium between these loci in Hu sheep and the F1 population (r2 > 0.33), which suggests that detecting this 90 bp deletion might be a simple method to identify the likely carriers of c.746A > G. However, the function of this 90-bp deletion still needs further exploration. We provide genetic data that can be used as a reference for the breeding of improved prolific traits in sheep.

Utilization of two plant polysaccharides to improve fresh goat milk cheese: Texture, rheological properties, and microstructure characterization.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of added jujube polysaccharide (JP) and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on the texture, rheological properties, and microstructure of goat milk cheese. Seven groups of fresh goat milk cheese were produced with 4 levels (0, 0.2, 0.6, and 1%, wt/wt) of JP and LBP. The goat milk cheese containing 1% JP showed the highest water-holding capacity, hardness, and the strongest rheological properties by creating a denser and more stable casein network structure. In addition, the yield of goat milk cheese was substantially improved as a result of JP incorporation. Cheeses containing LBP expressed lower fat content, higher moisture, and softer texture compared with the control cheese. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis demonstrated that the addition of JP improved the stability of the secondary protein structure in cheese and significantly enhanced the binding capacity of the casein matrix to water molecules due to strengthened intermolecular interactions. The current research demonstrated the potential feasibility of modifying the texture of goat milk cheese by JP or LBP, available for developing tunable goat milk cheese to satisfy consumer preferences and production needs.

Classification and Recognition of Building Appearance Based on Optimized Gradient-Boosted Decision Tree Algorithm.

There are high concentrations of urban spaces and increasingly complex land use types. Providing an efficient and scientific identification of building types has become a major challenge in urban architectural planning. This study used an optimized gradient-boosted decision tree algorithm to enhance a decision tree model for building classification. Through supervised classification learning, machine learning training was conducted using a business-type weighted database. We innovatively established a form database to store input items. During parameter optimization, parameters such as the number of nodes, maximum depth, and learning rate were gradually adjusted based on the performance of the verification set to achieve optimal performance on the verification set under the same conditions. Simultaneously, a k-fold cross-validation method was used to avoid overfitting. The model clusters trained in the machine learning training corresponded to various city sizes. By setting the parameters to determine the size of the area of land for a target city, the corresponding classification model could be invoked. The experimental results show that this algorithm has high accuracy in building recognition. Especially in R, S, and U-class buildings, the overall accuracy rate of recognition reaches over 94%.

Diagnostic value of imaging modalities in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver (PSCCL) is rare. PSCCL's lack of specific clinical manifestations and laboratory tests necessitate preoperative diagnosis via imaging examination. Conventional ultrasound (US) demonstrates a mass with mixed echogenicity, and contrast-enhanced US shows a circular pattern of "fast forward, fast backward or slow backward, high enhancement." Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed enhancement in the center or edge of the lesion, and the density of the enhanced lesion was lower than that of the liver tissue in the same layer. Positron emission tomography-CT demonstrates an inhomogeneous low-density mass with increased 18F-FDG metabolism. Magnetic resonance imaging shows low signal intensity on T1-weighed images (T1WI) and high signal on T2-weighed images (T2WI). By summarizing the imaging characteristics of PSCCL, this review aims to improve clinicians' understanding of PSCCL and its diagnosis.

miR-486 Responds to Apoptosis and Autophagy by Repressing SRSF3 Expression in Ovarian Granulosa Cells of Dairy Goats.

The accumulation of ovarian granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis underlies follicular atresia. By comparing the previous sequencing results, miR-486 was found to be differentially expressed at higher levels in the monotocous goat than in the polytocous goat. Unfortunately, the miRNA-mediated mechanisms by which the GC fate is regulated are unknown in Guanzhong dairy goats. Therefore, we investigated miR-486 expression in small and large follicles, as well as its impact on normal GC survival, apoptosis and autophagy in vitro. Here, we identified and characterized miR-486 interaction with Ser/Arg-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) using luciferase reporter analysis, detecting its role in GC survival, apoptosis and autophagy regulation through qRT-PCR, Western blot, CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential and monodansylcadaverine, etc. Our findings revealed prominent effects of miR-486 in the regulation of GC survival, apoptosis and autophagy by targeting SRSF3, which might explain the high differential expression of miR-486 in the ovaries of monotocous dairy goats. In summary, this study aimed to reveal the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-486 regulation on GC function and its effect on ovarian follicle atresia in dairy goats, as well as the functional interpretation of the downstream target gene SRSF3.