Characterization of the gut microbiome in Wuhuang pigs and their crossbred offspring

IntroductionAs an indigenous Chinese breed, Wuhuang pigs are valued for their stress resistance, tolerance to coarse feed, and high lean meat yield, while Berkshire pigs serve as ideal sires due to superior meat quality and early maturity. To explore the microbial basis of hybrid vigor in these breeds, we compared the gut microbiota of purebred Wuhuang pigs and Wuhuang–Berkshire hybrids.MethodsMicrobial composition was assessed via 16S rDNA sequencing, and predictive functional profiling was performed using PICRUSt2 analysis.ResultsHybrids exhibited significantly increased microbial α-diversity and altered β-diversity. Notably, hybrid ceca were enriched with probiotic genera involved in fiber degradation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production—such as Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Lachnospiraceae, and Roseburia—accompanied by a higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and strengthened microbial network connectivity. Predictive functional profiling further revealed significantly elevated activity in hybrid pigs for key metabolic pathways including tryptophan synthesis, pyridoxal salvage, and galacturonic acid metabolism (FDR < 0.05).DiscussionThese results imply that hybrid animals leverage enriched probiotic consortia to augment nutrient metabolism and immune function, thereby supporting improved stress resilience and feed efficiency. This study provides potential microbial targets for the future genetic improvement of indigenous pig breeds

Enhanced immunity: the gut microbiota changes in high-altitude Tibetan pigs compared to Yorkshire pigs

IntroductionLong-term domestication in high-altitude environments has led to unique changes in the gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs. This study aims to investigate specific alterations in the intestinal flora of Tibetan Pigs compared to Yorkshire pigs.MethodsWe employed 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing technologies for comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiota. The data collected allowed us to assess microbial community structures and functional capabilities.ResultsOur analysis revealed that Tibetan Pigs raised under a “free-range + supplementary feeding” model exhibited increased abundance of microbial communities associated with short-chain fatty acid synthesis and the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose. Notably, the characteristic bacterium Rhodococcus, commonly found in high-altitude environments, was enriched in the gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs, facilitating the efficient utilization of natural compounds and degradation of toxic substances. Additionally, the increased abundance of probiotics in these pigs enhances their immunity, which may involve mechanisms such as disrupting the structure of pathogenic bacteria and detoxifying harmful metabolites.DiscussionThese findings underscore the advantages of Tibetan Pigs over common commercial breeds, highlighting their unique gut microbiota adaptations. Furthermore, they open new avenues for screening potential probiotics and developing genetic breeding strategies for improved livestock varieties.ConclusionUnderstanding the distinct gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs provides valuable insights into their health benefits and resilience, contributing to future research on breed improvement and microbiome applications in agriculture

Nanoscale doping of polymeric semiconductors with confined electrochemical ion implantation.

peer reviewedNanoresolved doping of polymeric semiconductors can overcome scaling limitations to create highly integrated flexible electronics, but remains a fundamental challenge due to isotropic diffusion of the dopants. Here we report a general methodology for achieving nanoscale ion-implantation-like electrochemical doping of polymeric semiconductors. This approach involves confining counterion electromigration within a glassy electrolyte composed of room-temperature ionic liquids and high-glass-transition-temperature insulating polymers. By precisely adjusting the electrolyte glass transition temperature (Tg) and the operating temperature (T), we create a highly localized electric field distribution and achieve anisotropic ion migration that is nearly vertical to the nanotip electrodes. The confined doping produces an excellent resolution of 56 nm with a lateral-extended doping length down to as little as 9.3 nm. We reveal a universal exponential dependence of the doping resolution on the temperature difference (Tg - T) that can be used to depict the doping resolution for almost infinite polymeric semiconductors. Moreover, we demonstrate its implications in a range of polymer electronic devices, including a 200% performance-enhanced organic transistor and a lateral p-n diode with seamless junction widths of <100 nm. Combined with a further demonstration in the scalability of the nanoscale doping, this concept may open up new opportunities for polymer-based nanoelectronics

ETV6-RUNX1 and RUNX1 directly regulate RAG1 expression: one more step in the understanding of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia leukemogenesis.

Funder: Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire ; French Research MinistryFunder: Cancéropole Grand Ouest ; Région Bretagne ; Société Française d’HématologieFunder: Ligue Régionale contre le cancer ;ETV6-RUNX1 and RUNX1 directly promote RAG1 expression. ETV6-RUNX1 and RUNX1 preferentially bind to the −1200 bp enhancer of RAG1 and the −80 bp promoter of RAG1 gene respectively, and compete for these bindings. ETV6-RUNX1 and RUNX1 induce an excessive RAG recombinase activity. ETV6-RUNX1 participates directly in two events of the multi-hit ALL leukemogenesis: as an initiating event and as an activator of RAG1 expression

The Autocorrelation Distribution and 2-Adic complexity of a Class of Binary Generalized Cyclotomic Sequences with Period pq

Abstract A class of binary sequences with period pq is constructed using generalized cyclotomic classes, and their autocorrelation distribution and 2-adic complexity are determined using Gauss sum and group ring theory. The results show that the autocorrelation function of the new sequences is 3-level if p ≡ 3 (mod 4) and q ≡ 3 (mod 4) which is very close to the optimal and the 2-adic complexity of these sequences is maximum if p &lt; q &lt; 2p − 1. According to the rational approximation algorithm(RAA), these sequences have quite good cryptographic properties in the aspect of autocorrelation and 2-adic complexity.</jats:p

Robust passive sampling of airborne environmental DNA to monitor plants and animals

Abstract Airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) is a rich resource for understanding biodiversity, but its wider application is hindered by its complex collection methods and unknown sampling time effects. To develop a passive sampling scheme that is effective and convenient, we systematically compared the performance of an array of materials, namely common filter membranes, electrostatic dust cloth [EDC] and coated microscope slides, for collecting airborne eDNA under a natural setting in two seasons. Metabarcoding analysis of the captured eDNA revealed a rich diversity of plants (485 taxa) and vertebrates (132 taxa), but different samplers varied significantly in detecting that taxonomic richness, with EDC strongly outperforming the other materials. Our investigation of sampling time effects showed a rapid, daily compositional turnover of plant assemblages uncovered by airborne eDNA. Using EDC, prolonged sampling was negatively correlated with the detected plant richness but positively so with animal richness. Overall, we provide empirical evidence for a very simple and economical passive sampler of airborne eDNA that can effectively detect considerable biodiversity in natural environments. Our findings also support the use of airborne eDNA for monitoring plant and fungal phenology and community shifts at a high temporal resolution

Effect of Silica Fume and Polyvinyl Alcohol Fiber on Mechanical Properties and Frost Resistance of Concrete

To improve the mechanical properties and frost resistance of concrete, silica fume, and polyvinyl alcohol fiber compounded in concrete. The mechanical and frost resistance of concrete were comprehensively analyzed and evaluated for strength change, mass loss, and relative dynamic elastic modulus change by compressive strength test, flexural strength test, and rapid freeze-thaw test. The results showed that with the incorporation of silica fume and polyvinyl alcohol fiber, the compressive and flexural strengths of concrete were improved, and the decrease in mass loss rate and relative dynamic elastic modulus of concrete after freeze-thaw cycles were significantly reduced, which indicated that the compounding of silica fume and polyvinyl alcohol fiber improved the frost resistance of concrete. When the content of silica fume was 10% and the volume content of polyvinyl alcohol fiber was 1%, the comprehensive mechanical performance and frost resistance of concrete is the best. The compressive strength increased by 26.6% and flexural strength increased by 29.17% compared to ordinary concrete. Based on the test data, to study the macroscopic damage evolution of concrete compound silica fume and polyvinyl alcohol fiber under repeated freeze-thaw conditions. The Weibull distribution probability model and GM (1, 1) model were established. The average relative errors between the predicted and actual data of the two models are small and very close. It is shown that both models can reflect well the development of concrete damage under a freeze-thaw environment. This provides an important reference value and theoretical basis for the durability evaluation and life prediction of compound silica fume and polyvinyl alcohol fiber concrete in cold regions