Balancing conflicting mitigation and adaptation behaviours of urban residents under climate change and the urban heat island effect

Under a warming climate and urban heat island effects, cooling behaviours are increasingly important for city dwellers. Cooling actions, especially air conditioning, receive increasing scrutiny in social science, as does engagement and communication on behaviours spanning adaptation and mitigation. In response, this paper evaluates the relation between residents’ adaptation and mitigation behaviours around cooling in Fukuoka, Japan, and draws lessons for communication on encouraging adaptation and mitigation actions. A survey distributed to residents in six areas of Fukuoka, Japan, assessed perceptions of global warming and urban heat island effects, frequency of mitigation and adaptation behaviours, use of air conditioning, electricity bills and evaluation of green spaces. We observe a difference between respondents using air conditioning with an energy-saving (i.e. mitigation) focus, versus those using air conditioning with an adaptation (i.e. cooling) focus. We also note residents emphasising mitigation behaviours may use shade in parks or cooling centres as alternative cooling strategies, but that awareness of effective air conditioning use may be lacking. Our findings build on existing literature by reinforcing – in a subtropical context – the need to reconsider practices around air conditioner use; and illustrate the value of a breadth of messages to promote joint mitigation and adaptation actions

Identification of SNPs in MITF associated with beak color of duck

Introduction: Beak color—a pigment-related trait—is an important feature of duck breeds. Recently, little research has addressed genetic mechanism of the beak colors in poultry, whereas the process and the regulation factors of melanin deposition have been well described.Methods: To investigate the genetic mechanism of beak colors, we conducted an integrated analysis of genomic selection signatures to identify a candidate site associated with beak color. For this, we used black-billed (Yiyang I meat duck synthetic line H1, H2, H3&HF) and yellow-billed ducks (Cherry Valley ducks and white feather Putian black duck). Quantitative real-time PCR and genotyping approaches were used to verify the function of the candidate site.Results: We identified 3,895 windows containing 509 genes. After GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, nine genes were selected. Ultimately, MITF was selected by comparing the genomic differentiation (FST). After loci information selection, 41 extreme significantly different loci were selected, which are all located in intron regions of MITF and are in almost complete linkage disequilibrium. Subsequently, the site ASM874695v1:10:g.17814522T > A in MITF was selected as the marker site. Furthermore, we found that MITF expression is significantly higher in black-beaked ducks than in yellow-beaked ducks of the F2 generation (p < 0.01). After genotyping, most yellow-billed individuals are found with homozygous variant; at the same time, there are no birds with homozygous variant in black-billed populations, while the birds with homozygous and heterozygous variant share the same proportion.Conclusion:MITF plays a very critical role in the melanogenesis and melanin deposition of duck beaks, which can effectively affect the beak color. The MITF site, ASM874695v1:10:g.17814522T > A could be selected as a marker site for the duck beak color phenotype

The combination of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone at permitted feed concentrations causes serious physiological effects in young pigs

This study was to investigate the effects of the combination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) on pigs. Twenty-four weaning piglets were divided into a control group fed a diet free of mycotoxins and a toxin group fed a diet containing 1 mg/kg DON and 250 µg/kg ZON. The results showed that supplementation of DON and ZON in diets had extensive effects on pigs. More specifically, DON and ZON caused levels of total protein, albumin, and globulin in sera to decrease (p < 0.05) by 14.5%, 6.5% and 11.3%, respectively, and at the same time increased (p < 0.05) the serum enzyme activities of γ-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase by 72.0%, 32.6% and 36.6%, respectively. In addition, DON and ZON decreased (p < 0.05) the level of anti-classical swine fever antibody titers by 14.8%. Real-time PCR showed that DON and ZON caused the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, to decrease (p < 0.05) by 36.0%, 29.0% and 35.4%, respectively. Histopathological studies demonstrated that DON and ZON caused abnormalities in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, uterus, and kidney. The concentrations of DON and ZON used in this study are in line with the published critical values permitted by BML. Our study clearly put the standard and adequacy of safety measures for these toxins into question. The authors suggest that with the increasing availability of cellular and molecular technologies, it is time to revisit the safety standards for toxins in feeds so as to make feeds safer, providing consumers with safer products

Metagenomic insights into the relationship between gut microbiota and residual feed intake of small-sized meat ducks

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to determine the regulatory effects of gut microbiota on the feed efficiency (FE) of small-sized meat ducks by evaluating correlations between gut microbiota and residual feed intake (RFI).MethodsA total of 500 21-day-old healthy male ducks with similar initial body weights (645 ± 15.0 g) were raised contemporaneously in the same experimental facility until slaughter at 56 days of age. In total, nine low-RFI (LR) and nine high-RFI (HR) birds were selected for further gut microbiota composition and functional analyses based on the production performance, and the RFI was calculated from 22 to 56 days of age.ResultsGrowth performance results indicated a significantly lower RFI, feed conversion ratio, feed intake, and average daily feed intake in the LR ducks (P &lt; 0.05). Taxonomy results of gut microbiota showed the identification of 19 kinds of phyla and more than 250 kinds of genera in all samples. No significant discrepancies in cecal bacterial α-diversity were discovered between the LR and HR groups, which indicated that the microbial modulatory effects on RFI may be attributed to the bacterial composition, rather than the species diversity. Differential analysis of bacterial communities between the LR and HR groups showed a significant increment of Firmicutes and a significant decline of Bacteroidetes in the LR group (P &lt; 0.05). Specifically, genera of Erysipelatoclostridium, Parasutterella, Fournierella, and Lactococcus significantly proliferated, while Bacteroides significantly decreased in the LR group (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that the RFI was significantly correlated with carbohydrate metabolism-related bacteria including Bacteroides, Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, Ruminiclostridium_9, Sellimonas, Oscillibacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus.ConclusionIn conclusion, the communities related to carbohydrate metabolism had positive regulatory effects on the FE of small-sized meat ducks, promoting it by improving the relative abundance and utilization of these communities. The present study provides valuable insight into the dynamics of gut microbiota underlying the variations in the FE of small-sized meat ducks

Circular RNA and mRNA profiling reveal competing endogenous RNA networks during avian leukosis virus, subgroup J-induced tumorigenesis in chickens.

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) can induce myeloid tumors and hemangiomas in chickens and causes severe economic losses with commercial layer chickens and meat-type chickens. Here, we generated ribominus RNA sequencing data from three normal chicken spleen tissues and three ALV-J-infected chicken spleen tissues. Structure analysis of transcripts showed that, compared to mRNAs and lncRNAs, chicken circRNAs shared relatively shorter transcripts and similar GC content. Differentially expression analysis showed 152 differentially expressed circRNAs with 106 circRNAs up regulated and 46 circRNAs down regulated. Through comparing differentially expressed circRNA host genes and mRNAs and performed ceRNA network analysis, we found several tumor or immune-related genes, in which, there were four genes existed in both differentially expressed mRNAs and circRNA host genes (Dock4, Fmr1, Zfhx3, Ralb) and two genes (Mll, Aoc3) involved in ceRNA network. We further characterized one exon-intron circRNA derived from HRH4 gene in the ceRNA network, termed circHRH4, which is an abundant and stable circRNA expressed in various tissues and cells in chicken and localizes in cytoplasm. Our results provide new insight into the pathology of ALV-J infection and circRNAs may also mediate tumorigenesis in chicken

Staphylococcus aureus on the effect of expression of MMPs/TIMPs and uPA system in bovine mammary fibroblasts

Background: Bovine mammary fibrosis is characteristic of chronic in injury in response to diverse pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) is a frequent cause of mastitis in bovine and is prone to persistent infection. Diverse studies have shown MMPs/TIMPs and uPA system as a potent target for the treatment of fibrosis. However, pathogenesis of S. aureus-induced mammary fibrosis has not been completely defined. Methods: BMFBs treated with heat-inactivated S. aureus (105, 106, and 108 CFU/mL) for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Total RNA and protein were isolated from the treatments and controls of BMFBs samples. MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, COL Ⅰ, uPA, uPAR and PAI-1 gene and protein expression were examined by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. Gelatin zymography assay was performed to assess the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzyme secreted. Results: BMFBs treated with heat-inactivated S. aureus increased mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13, and heat-inactivated S. aureus induced TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and COL Ⅰ expression. There was a clear activation of MMP-2 in the presence of heat-inactivated S. aureus in the conditioned medium from the BMFBs, whereas MMP-9 was no significantly altered. Moreover, uPA system was activated in BMFBs to S. aureus. Conclusion: Activation of the uPA system together with its impact on the MMPs levels could play a significant role in S. aureus-induced BMFBs with mechanism of ECM metabolism, MMPs/TIMPs and uPA system could participate in bovine mammary fibrosis

Analysis of the Influence of SBS Content and Structure on the Performance of SBS/CR Composite Modified Asphalt

The performance of asphalt can be improved by adding styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer and crumb rubber (CR). This paper investigated the influence of the structure and content of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer on the properties of SBS/CR modified asphalt (SBS/CRMA). These SBS/CRMA were prepared by mixing 90# matrix asphalt, 60 mesh CR powder, and SBS copolymers with two molecular structures, which were tested for penetration, softening point, ductility, and rheology. The complex modulus, phase angle, rutting factor, storage modulus, and dissipation modulus of SBS/CRMA were analyzed with the 64°C frequency sweep tests. The results revealed that the content and structure had significant impacts on the performances of SBS/CRMA, and the advantages of SBS polymer network structure in the modified asphalt system cannot be reflected when the amount of SBS was small. Meanwhile, the high-temperature stability, low-temperature tensile resistance, temperature sensitivity, and viscoelasticity of rubberized asphalt were further improved by adding a moderate amount of SBS copolymer. Furthermore, the properties of SBS/CRMA were better as the contents of SBS increased when the type of SBS doped was the same. The effect of modification improved by star-shaped SBS copolymer addition was more than that improved by linear SBS copolymer addition. As a conclusion, the content of 4 wt% star-shaped SBS and 20 wt% CR powder-modified 90# matrix asphalt has the best modification effect with the comparison of other groups