Comparison of Dynamics of Udder Skin Microbiota From Grazing Yak and Cattle During the Perinatal Period on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

he perinatal period has an important impact on the health of ruminants, and the imbalance of udder skin microbiota might be an important inducement of bovine mastitis. However, it is not clear how the perinatal period affects the microbial structure and stability of the udder skin of yak and cattle. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing to analyze the udder skin microbiota of yak and cattle during the perinatal period. We found that the diversity and richness of microbiota of bovine udder skin during 1–2 weeks postpartum were significantly lower than those in the 1–2 weeks prenatal and 1-month postpartum period (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05). Besides, we found sharing of 2,533 OTUs in the udder skin microbiota of yak and cattle during the perinatal period, among which the core microbiota at the genera level was mainly composed of Staphylococcus, Moraxella, and Acinetobacter. However, the genus Acinetobacter was significantly abundant in the udder skin of cattle during 1–2 weeks postpartum. The NMDS and LEfSe results showed that the perinatal period had more effects on the composition and stability of microbial community in the udder skin of cattle compared to yak, particularly during 1–2 weeks postpartum. In addition, the average content of total whey proteins and immunoglobulin G of whey protein were significantly higher in the yak colostrum when compared to those found in the cattle (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the structure of udder skin microbiota of yak during the perinatal period is more stable than that of cattle in the same habitat, and 1–2 weeks postpartum may be a potential window period to prevent cattle mastitis

Fecal Microbiota Dynamics Reveal the Feasibility of Early Weaning of Yak Calves under Conventional Grazing System

Background: The gut microbiota plays an important role in the health and production of animals. However, little information is available on the dynamic variations and comparison of intestinal microbiota in post-weaning yak calves living on the QTP. Methods: We explored the fecal bacterial microbiota succession of yak calves at different months after early weaning (60 d) compared with cattle calves by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and functional composition prediction. Results: We found no significant difference in blood biochemical parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism between yaks and calves in different months after weaning. The core fecal bacterial microbiota from both species of calves was dominated by Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. The fecal microbial community has a great alteration within the time after weaning in both cattle and yak calves, but cattle showed a larger change. After five months, the microbiota achieves a stable and concentrated state. This is also similar to the functional profile. Conclusions: Based on the exploration of dynamic changes in the fecal microbiota at an early stage of life, our results illustrated that there were no negative effects of intestinal microbiota succession on yak calves when early weaning was employed

Impact of alirocumab/evolocumab on lipoprotein (a) concentrations in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common hereditary genetic disorder, characterized by elevated circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentrations, leading to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Two types of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors — alirocumab and evolocumab — are efficient drugs in the treatment of FH, which can effectively reduce Lp(a) levels. Material and methods: Embase, MEDLINE, and PubMed up to November 2022 were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of alirocumab/evolocumab and placebo treatment on plasma Lp(a) levels in FH. Statistics were analysed by Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) and Stata 15.1. Results: Eleven RCTs involved a total of 2408 participants. Alirocumab/evolocumab showed a significant efficacy in reducing Lp(a) [weighted mean difference (WMD): –20.10%, 95% confidence interval (CI): –25.59% to –14.61%] compared with placebo. In the drug type subgroup analyses, although the efficacy of evolocumab was slightly low (WMD: –19.98%, 95% CI: –25.23% to –14.73%), there was no difference with alirocumab (WMD: –20.54%, 95% CI: –30.07% to –11.02%). In the treatment duration subgroup analyses, the efficacy of the 12-week duration group (WMD: –17.61%, 95% CI: –23.84% to –11.38%) was lower than in the group of ≥ 24 weeks’ duration (WMD: –22.81%, 95% CI: –31.56% to –14.07%). In the participants’ characteristics subgroup analyses, the results showed that no differential effect of alirocumab/evolocumab therapy on plasma Lp(a) concentrations was observed (heterozygous FH [HeFH] WMD: –20.07%, 95% CI: –26.07% to –14.08%; homozygous FH [HoFH] WMD: –20.04%, 95% CI: –36.31% to –3.77%). Evaluation of all-cause adverse events (AEs) between alirocumab/evolocumab groups and placebo groups [relative risk (RR): 1.05, 95% CI: 0.98–1.12] implied no obvious difference between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Anti-PCSK9 drugs (alirocumab and evolocumab) may be effective as therapy for reducing serum Lp(a) levels in FH, and no differences were observed in treatment durations, participant characteristics, and other aspects of the 2 types of PCSk9 inhibitors. However, further experimental studies and RCTs are warranted to clarify the mechanism of PSCK9 inhibitors to lowering Lp(a) concentrations in FH

Maternal Fecal Microbes Contribute to Shaping the Early Life Assembly of the Intestinal Microbiota of Co-inhabiting Yak and Cattle Calves

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau offers one of the most extreme environments for yaks (Bos grunniens). Although the genetic adaptability of yak and rumen metagenomes is increasingly understood, the relative contribution of host genetics and maternal symbiotic microbes throughout early intestinal microbial successions in yaks remains elusive. In this study, we assessed the intestinal microbiota succession of co-inhabiting yak and cattle (Bos taurus) calves at different weeks after birth as well as the modes of transmission of maternal symbiotic microbes (i.e., rumen fluid, feces, oral cavity, and breast skin) to their calves’ intestinal microbiota colonization. We found that the fecal microbiota of yak and cattle calves after birth was dominated by members of the familiesRuminococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. The Source Tracker model revealed that maternal fecal microbes played an important role (the average contribution was about 80%) in the intestinal microbial colonization of yak and cattle calves at different weeks after birth. Unlike cattle calves, there was no significant difference in the fecal microbiota composition of yak calves between 5 and 9 weeks after birth (Wilcoxon test, P > 0.05), indicating that yak may adapt to its natural extreme environment to stabilize its intestinal microbiota composition. Additionally, our results also find that theintestinal microbial composition of yak and cattle calves, with age, gradually tend to become similar, and the differences between species gradually decrease. The findings of this study are vital for developing strategies to manipulate the intestinal microbiota in grazing yaks and cattle for better growth and performance on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Impacts of climate change and human activities on vegetation coverage variation in mountainous and hilly areas in Central South of Shandong Province based on tree-ring

IntroductionIt is of great significance to understand the characteristics and influencing factors of vegetation coverage variation in the warm temperate zone. As a typical region of the warm temperate zone in eastern China, the mountainous and hilly region in central-south Shandong Province has fragile ecological environment and soil erosion problem. Studying on vegetation dynamics and its influencing factors in this region will help to better understand the relationship between climate change and vegetation cover change in the warm temperate zone of eastern China, and the influence of human activities on vegetation cover dynamics.MethodsBased on dendrochronology, a standard tree-ring width chronology was established in the mountainous and hilly region of central-south Shandong Province, and the vegetation coverage from 1905 to 2020 was reconstructed to reveal the dynamic change characteristics of vegetation cover in this region. Secondly, the influence of climate factors and human activities on the dynamic change of vegetation cover was discussed through correlation analysis and residual analysis.Results and discussionIn the reconstructed sequence, 23 years had high vegetation coverage and 15 years had low vegetation coverage. After low-pass filtering, the vegetation coverage of 1911–1913, 1945–1951, 1958–1962, 1994–1996, and 2007–2011 was relatively high, while the vegetation coverage of 1925–1927, 1936–1942, 2001–2003, and 2019–2020 was relatively low. Although precipitation determined the variation of vegetation coverage in this study area, the impacts of human activities on the change of vegetation coverage in the past decades cannot be ignored. With the development of social economy and the acceleration of urbanization, the vegetation coverage declined. Since the beginning of the 21st century, ecological projects such as Grain-for-Green have increased the vegetation coverage

Analysis and Evaluation of Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission Levels of Products Produced by Different Kinds of Equipment Based on Green Development Concept

Energy consumption and carbon emission levels in the production process constitute an important basis for the selection of production equipment. The energy consumption and carbon emission levels of the same product produced by different kinds equipment vary greatly from one tool to another. Unfortunately, traditional modes of selection only give qualitative results, so that it is difficult to provide a quantitative reference to enable enterprises to choose appropriate modes of production in the context of the green development concept (GDC). In order to solve this problem, a calculation method for multiple energy consumption and carbon-emission objectives for commodity production is proposed. The focus of this paper is to research the difference between the energy consumption and carbon emission levels of the same product produced by different kinds of equipment. The energy consumption and carbon emissions of different kinds of equipment can be calculated by gray wolf algorithm. The results show that the proposed method can calculate the optimal values of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the same kinds of products produced by different equipment, which can provide assistance for enterprises in choosing the production equipment that best conforms to the green development concept

Li/Na Ion Storage Performance of a FeOF Nano Rod with Controllable Morphology

Although the conversion material iron oxyfluoride (FeOF) possesses a high theoretical specific capacity as a cathode material for Li/Na ion batteries, its poor rate and cycling performances, caused mainly by sluggish (Li+/Na+) reaction kinetics, restrict its practical application. Herein, FeOF with high purity, a fusiform nanorod shape and high crystallinity is prepared through a facile chemical solution reaction. The electrochemical measurements show that the present FeOF exhibits high capacity and good cycling stability as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries. Capacities of 301, 274, 249, 222, and 194 mAh/g at stepwise current densities of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mA/g are achieved, respectively. Additionally, the capacity at 100 mA/g retains 123 mAh/g after 140 cycles. Meanwhile, as a cathode material for Na ion battery, it delivers discharge capacities of 185, 167, 151, 134 and 115 mAh/g at stepwise current densities of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mA/g, respectively. A discharge capacity of 83 mAh/g at 100 mA/g is achieved after 140 cycles. The excellent lithium/sodium-storage performance of the present FeOF material is ascribed to its unique nanostructure

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Tibet Gaoshan Yak (Bos grunniens)

Tibet Gaoshan Yak (Bos grunniens) is a local Yak breed that mainly produces meat in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Tibet Gaoshan Yak was sequenced. The total length of the mitochondrial genome is 16,323 bp, and the base composition is 33.71% for A, 13.21% for G, 27.27% for T, and 25.81% for C. The genome includes 13 protein-coding genes (ND1-ND6, ND4L, COX1-COX3, ATP6, ATP8, and CYTB), two rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16SrRNA), 22 tRNA genes, and a noncoding control region (D-loop). Phylogenetic analysis showed that Tibet Gaoshan Yak has the closest relationship with Polled Yak. The sequence analysis provided in this study will be helpful to the management of Yak breeds, the origin, and evolution of Yak, and the protection and utilization of genetic resources

Fecal Microbiota Dynamics Reveal the Feasibility of Early Weaning of Yak Calves under Conventional Grazing System

Background: The gut microbiota plays an important role in the health and production of animals. However, little information is available on the dynamic variations and comparison of intestinal microbiota in post-weaning yak calves living on the QTP. Methods: We explored the fecal bacterial microbiota succession of yak calves at different months after early weaning (60 d) compared with cattle calves by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and functional composition prediction. Results: We found no significant difference in blood biochemical parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism between yaks and calves in different months after weaning. The core fecal bacterial microbiota from both species of calves was dominated by Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. The fecal microbial community has a great alteration within the time after weaning in both cattle and yak calves, but cattle showed a larger change. After five months, the microbiota achieves a stable and concentrated state. This is also similar to the functional profile. Conclusions: Based on the exploration of dynamic changes in the fecal microbiota at an early stage of life, our results illustrated that there were no negative effects of intestinal microbiota succession on yak calves when early weaning was employed

Comparative Study of the Expression Profiles of miRNAs of Milk-Derived Exosomes of Yak and Jeryak

The Jeryak is the hybrid offspring of yaks and Jersey cattle and exhibit improved milk and meat yields. Biomolecules carried within milk exosomes are important for cell growth, development, immune regulation, and various pathophysiological processes. Previous studies showed that miRNAs regulate mammary gland development, lactation, and milk quality. This study explored the relationship between milk exosomes miRNAs and lactation performance. A comparison of the milk content showed that yak milk was of a better quality compared to Jeryak milk (casein, fat, TS, SNF, lactose). Milk collected in December was superior to that collected in June for both yak and Jeryak, except for lactose concentrations. Exosomes were extracted by density gradient centrifugation and miRNA expression profiles in milk exosomes from three yaks and three Jeryaks collected in June and December were detected by small RNA sequencing. In all, 22, 120, 78, and 62 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified in Jun_ JY vs. Jun_ Y (P1: Jeryak in June vs. Yak in June), Jun_ JY vs. Dec_ JY (P2: Jeryak in June vs. Jeryak in December), Dec_ JY vs. Dec_ Y (P3: Jeryak in December vs. Yak in December), and Jun_ Y vs. Dec_ Y (P4: Yak in June vs. Yak in December) groups. These DEMs were enriched in functions and signaling pathways related to lactation performance. In conclusion, these findings are a reference tool to study the molecular basis of lactation performance