Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals genes related to growth performance in Hu sheep.

Hu sheep are a unique breed in our country with great reproductive potential, the extent of whose breeding has been steadily rising in recent years. The study subjects in this experiment were 8-month-old Hu sheep (n = 112). First of all, the growth performance, slaughter performance and meat quality of their eye muscle quality were assessed, meanwhile their live weight, carcass weight, body length, body height, chest circumference, chest depth and tube circumference were respectively 33.81 ± 5.47 kg, 17.43 ± 3.21 kg, 60.36 ± 4.41 cm, 63.25 ± 3.88 cm, 72.03 ± 5.02 cm, 30.70 ± 2.32 cm and 7.36 ± 0.56 cm, with a significant difference between rams and ewes (P < 0.01). Following that, transcriptome sequencing was done, and candidate genes related to growth performance were identified using the weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) approach, which was used to identified 15 modules, with the turquoise and blue modules having the strongest association with growth and slaughter performance, respectively. We discovered hub genes such as ARHGAP31, EPS8, AKT3, EPN1, PACS2, KIF1C, C12H1orf115, FSTL1, PTGFRN and IFIH1 in the gene modules connected with growth and slaughter performance. Our research identifies the hub genes associated with the growth and slaughter performance of Hu sheep, which play an important role in their muscle growth, organ and cartilage development, blood vessel development and energy metabolic pathways. Our findings might lead to the development of potentially-useful biomarkers for the selection of growth and slaughterer performance-related attributes of sheep and other livestock.

The Artist's Conk Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma applanatum (Agaricomycetes): Mycological, Mycochemical, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review.

As a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat., also known as flat-ling Ganoderma (Chinese name bianlingzhi), old mother fungus (laomujun), and old ox liver (laoniugan), has high medicinal value. It is used as an anti-cancer drug in China and Japan. Besides, it can treat rheumatic tuberculosis and has the effect of relieving pain, clearing away heat, eliminating accumulation, stopping bleeding and eliminating phlegm. The purpose of this review is to analyze the research progress systematically and comprehensively in mycology, mycochemistry and pharmacological activities of G. applanatum, and discuss the prospect of prospective research and implementation of this medicinal material. A comprehensive literature search was performed on G. applanatum using scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CNKI, Elsevier. Collected data from different sources was comprehensively summarized for mycology, mycochemistry and pharmacology of G. applanatum. A total of 324 compounds were recorded, the main components of which were triterpenoids, meroterpenoids, steroids, and polysaccharides. G. applanatum and its active ingredients have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor, liver protection, hypoglycemic, anti-fat, anti-oxidation, antibacterial and other activities. Although G. applanatum is widely used in traditional medicine and has diverse chemical constituents, more studies should be carried out in animals and humans to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in its biological activity.

In vitro digestion mimicking conditions in adults and elderly reveals digestive characteristics of pork from different cooking ways.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of three cooking ways (sous vide (SV), frying (FR) and roasting (RO)) on pork protein digestion characteristics under conditions simulating healthy adult (control, C) and elderly individuals with achlorhydria (EA). Changes in degree of hydrolysis (DH), SDS-PAGE profiles, zeta potential, particle size and secondary structure during digestion were evaluated. Our results revealed the EA condition markedly affected the protein digestion process of pork with different cooking ways. The DH values of SV (25.62%), FR (21.38%) and RO (19.40%) under the EA condition were significantly lower than those of under the control condition (38.32%, 33.00% and 30.86%, respectively). Moreover, differences were also observed among three cooking ways under the EA condition. For a given cooking way, the differences between control and EA conditions gradually diminished from the gastric to the intestinal phase. Under a certain digestion condition, SV maintained the highest degree of digestion throughout the process, particularly under the EA condition. Therefore, we conclude that pork cooked by sous vide is more recommendable for the elderly considering protein digestibility.

Effect of fumigation height and time on cryopreservation of ram semen.

The cooling rate is a crucial factor in the process of freezing semen, influencing the overall freezing effectiveness. The height and time of fumigation can significantly impact the rate of cooling. Appropriate cooling rates can help minimize the formation of ice crystals in spermatozoa and reduce potential damage to them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fumigation heights and time for the cryopreservation of Hu ram semen. Experiments I-IV assessed the effect of semen cryopreservation by testing the post-thawed spermatozoa total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM) and kinetic parameters fumigated at distances of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm for durations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively. Based on the results of experiments I to IV, experiment V evaluated the effect of semen cryopreservation by testing the post-thawed spermatozoa TM, PM, kinetic parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level fumigated at distances of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm for duration of 20 min. The results indicated that fumigation at 2 cm for 20 min significantly (P < 0.05) improved spermatozoa TM, PM, mean angular displacement (MAD), plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity compared to other groups. Additionally, it significantly (P < 0.05) reduced spermatozoa ROS level compared to the 6 and 8 cm groups. In conclusion, fumigation for 20 min at a distance of 2 cm from the liquid nitrogen surface is the most suitable cooling method for the cryopreservation of Hu ram semen.

Regulation of Fuzheng Huayu capsule on inhibiting the fibrosis-associated hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

In the current study, bioinformatics analysis of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) dataset was conducted with the hepatoprotective effect of the Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) capsule against the diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC progression analyzed. Eight cell clusters were defined and tanshinone IIA, arachidonic acid, and quercetin, compounds of the FZHY capsule, inhibit HCC progression-related fibrosis by regulating the expression of PLAU and IGFBP3. Combined with the ameliorative effect of the FZHY capsule against liver dysfunctions and expression of PLAU and IGFBP3, our study confirmed the effect of the FZHY capsule on inhibiting the fibrosis-associated HCC progression via regulating the expression of PLAU and IGFBP3.

Strategies to Increase the Production of Triterpene Acids in Ligzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum, Agaricomycetes): A Review.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are the main active ingredient of Ganoderma lucidum, which has been widely accepted as a medicinal mushroom. Due to the low yield of GAs produced by liquid cultured Ganoderma mycelium and solid cultured fruiting bodies, the commercial production and clinical application of GAs are limited. Therefore, it is important to increase the yield of GA in G. lucidum. A comprehensive literature search was performed with no set data range using the following keywords such as "triterpene," "ganoderic acids," "Ganoderma lucidum," and "Lingzhi" within the main databases including Web of Science, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The data were screened using titles and abstracts and those relevant to the topic were included in the paper and was not limited to studies published in English. Present review focuses on the four aspects: fermentation conditions and substrate, extrinsic elicitor, genetic engineering, and mutagenesis, which play significant roles in increasing triterpene acids production, thus providing an available reference for further research on G. lucidum fermentation.

Seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) enhances seed germination and seedling physiological traits of Coronilla varia L. under water stress.

Water stress can adversely affect seed germination and plant growth. Seed osmopriming is a pre-sowing treatment in which seeds are soaked in osmotic solutions to undergo the first stage of germination prior to radicle protrusion. Seed osmopriming enhances germination performance under stressful environmental conditions, making it an effective method to improve plant resistance and yield. This study analyzed the effect of seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on seed germination and physiological parameters of Coronilla varia L. Priming treatments using 10% to 30% PEG enhanced germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and seedling mass and reduced the time to reach 50% germination (T50). The PEG concentration that led to better results was 10%. The content of soluble proteins (SP), proline (Pro), soluble sugars (SS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in Coronilla varia L. seedlings increased with the severity of water stress. In addition, under water stress, electrolyte leakage rose, and peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities intensified, while catalase (CAT) activity increased at mild-to-moderate water stress but declined with more severe deficiency. The 10% PEG priming significantly improved germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and time to 50% germination (T50) under water stress. Across the water stress gradient here tested (8 to 12% PEG), seed priming enhanced SP content, Pro content, and SOD activity in Coronilla varia L. seedlings compared to the unprimed treatments. Under 10% PEG-induced water stress, primed seedlings displayed a significantly lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage than their unprimed counterparts and exhibited significantly higher CAT and POD activities. However, under 12% PEG-induced water stress, differences in electrolyte leakage, CAT activity, and POD activity between primed and unprimed treatments were not significant. These findings suggest that PEG priming enhances the osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity of Coronilla varia seedlings, facilitating seed germination and seedling growth and alleviating drought stress damage, albeit with reduced efficacy under severe water deficiency.

Local polarization redistribution in ZnmIn2S3+m for the enhancing synergetic piezo-photocatalytic overall water splitting.

Piezo-photocatalytic water (deuterium oxide) decomposition is a promising strategy for realizing renewable energy, but the manipulation of the polar center remains a big challenge. This study uses a simple low-temperature hydrothermal process to successfully manufacture ZnmIn2Sm+3 (m = 1-3) (ZnIn2S4, Zn2In2S5 and Zn3In2S6). Incorporating both experimental and theoretical analyses, the structural contraction and local polarization of the Zn-S bond in Zn2In2S5 enhance the piezoelectric response and surface charge accumulation, which facilitate charge transfer and reduce the activation energy of water. Remarkably, Zn2In2S5 exhibits excellent piezoelectric photocatalytic total water splitting performance (H2/O2: 4284.72/1967.00 µmol g-1h-1), which is 1.77 times that of photocatalytic performance. Moreover, a significant enhancement in D2O splitting performance can be obtained for the optimized Zn2In2S5. Our work offers valuable insights into the disclosure of local polarization in catalysts for enhancing piezo-photocatalytic overall water splitting.

Unraveling the role of PlARF2 in regulating deed formancy in Paeonia lactiflora.

MAIN CONCLUSION: PlARF2 can positively regulate the seed dormancy in Paeonia lactiflora Pall. and bind the RY cis-element. Auxin, a significant phytohormone influencing seed dormancy, has been demonstrated to be regulated by auxin response factors (ARFs), key transcriptional modulators in the auxin signaling pathway. However, the role of this class of transcription factors (TFs) in perennials with complex seed dormancy mechanisms remains largely unexplored. Here, we cloned and characterized an ARF gene from Paeonia lactiflora, named PlARF2, which exhibited differential expression levels in the seeds during the process of seed dormancy release. The deduced amino acid sequence of PlARF2 had high homology with those of other plants and contained typical conserved Auxin_resp domain of the ARF family. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PlARF2 was closely related to VvARF3 in Vitis vinifera. The subcellular localization and transcriptional activation assay showed that PlARF2 is a nuclear protein possessing transcriptional activation activity. The expression levels of dormancy-related genes in transgenic callus indicated that PlARF2 was positively correlated with the contents of PlABI3 and PlDOG1. The germination assay showed that PlARF2 promoted seed dormancy. Moreover, TF Centered Yeast one-hybrid assay (TF-Centered Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and dual-luciferase reporter assay analysis (Dual-Luciferase) provided evidence that PlARF2 can bind to the 'CATGCATG' motif. Collectively, our findings suggest that PlARF2, as TF, could be involved in the regulation of seed dormancy and may act as a repressor of germination.

IL-1ß induced down-regulation of miR-146a-5p promoted pyroptosis and apoptosis of corneal epithelial cell in dry eye disease through targeting STAT3.

AIM: To elaborate the underlying mechanisms by which IL-1ß promote progression of Dry eye disease(DED) through effect on pyroptosis and apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells(CECs). METHODS: 400 mOsM solutions were used to establish the DED model (hCECs- DED). RT-qPCR was performed to measure IL-1ß mRNA and miR-146a-5p in CECs. Western blotting was performed to measure STAT3, GSDMD, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 levels. Cell counting kit-8 assay was adopted to check cell viability. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. ELISAs were performed to determine IL-18, IL-33 and LDH. The luciferase test detects targeting relationships. RESULTS: After treatment with 400 mOsM solution, cell viability decreased and apoptosis increased. Compared with hCECs, IL-1ß was increased and miR-146a-5p was decreased in hCECs-DED. At the same time, GSDMD, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, IL-33 and LDH were significantly higher in hCECs-DED than in hCECs, while IL-1ß silencing reversed this effect. In addition, IL-1ß negatively regulated miR-146a-5p. MiR-146a-5p mimics eliminated the inhibition of hCECs-DED pyroptosis and apoptosis caused by IL-1ß silencing. At the same time, miR-146a-5p reduced STAT3 levels in hCECs. CONCLUSION: Highly expressed IL-1ß promoted pyroptosis and apoptosis of hCECs- DED through downregulated miR-146a-5p and inhibited STAT3.

Anti-Cancer Potency of Copper-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Against Breast Cancer Progression.

Introduction: The anti-cancer potency of copper-doped carbon quantum dots (Cu-CDs) against breast cancer progression needs more detailed investigations. Methods: With urea and ethylene glycol applied as carbon sources and copper sulfate used as a reactive dopant, Cu-CDs were synthesized in the current study by a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method, followed by the characterization and biocompatibility evaluations of Cu-CDs. Subsequently, the anti-cancer potency of Cu-CDs against breast cancer progression was confirmed by these biochemical, molecular, and transcriptomic assessments, including viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, clonogenicity, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, redox homeostasis, and transcriptomic assays of MDA-MB-231 cells. Results: The biocompatibility of Cu-CDs was confirmed based on the non-significant changes in the pathological and physiological parameters in the Cu-CDs treated mice, as well as the noncytotoxic effect of Cu-CDs on normal cells. Moreover, the Cu-CDs treatments not only decreased the viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, and clonogenicity of MDA-MB-231 cells but also induced the redox imbalance, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells via ameliorating the mitochondrial dysfunctions and regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the biosafety and excellent anti-cancer potency of Cu-CDs against breast cancer progression by tapping into mechanisms that disrupt malignant behaviors and oxidative homeostasis of breast cancer cells.

Chlorophyl-Passivated Ytterbium-Doped Perovskite Quantum-Cutting Film for High-Performance Solar Energy Conversion and Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Applications.

The quantum cutting ytterbium (Yb3+)-doped CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Cl, or Br) nanocrystals, exhibiting photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) exceeding 100%, hold significant promise for applications in solar energy conversion technologies and near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This work investigates the usage of chlorophyll (CHL), a naturally existing organic pigment, as an efficient molecular passivator to improve the performance of quantum cutting films. With the assistance of CHL, the resultant perovskite film displays an increased PLQY of 176%. The commercial silicon solar cells (SSCs) with CHL-treated perovskite films demonstrate a remarkable photon-to-current conversion efficiency improvement of 1.83% for a 330.15 cm2 area SSC device. Additionally, a CHL-modified Yb3+:CsPbCl3 film was used to create 988 nm NIR LEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 3.2%. This work provides a new, eco-friendly approach for producing high-quality, large-area Yb3+-doped perovskite film for deployment in photoelectric and night vision applications.

Effect of Different Dilution Methods and Ratios of Ram Semen on Sperm Parameters after Cryopreservation.

The dilution method and ratio were tested to assess their effects on the Hu ram semen after cryopreservation. Experiment I aimed to explore the effect of various dilution ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) of diluent I (Tris-based and egg yolk) under the condition of 1:1 dilution of diluent II (diluent I and glycerol) on the Hu ram semen preserved in liquid nitrogen regarding spermatozoa motility and kinetic parameters. Experiment II aimed to investigate the effect of various dilution ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) of diluent I under the condition of 1:2 dilution of diluent II to the Hu ram semen for cryopreservation on spermatozoa motility and kinetic parameters. The purpose of experiment III is to assess the effect of various dilution methods and ratios on the cryopreservation of Hu ram semen by detecting spermatozoa motility, kinetic parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Experiment III includes four groups: one-step dilution method and two-step dilution method. The two-step dilution method includes two groups: 1:2, 1:1 and 1:3, 1:2, and the one-step dilution method includes two groups: 1:5 and 1:11. The results indicated that the post-thawed spermatozoa total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM) and average motion degree (MAD) were highest in the 1:2 group and significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the 1:1 and 1:4 groups under the condition of 1:1 dilution of diluent II. The post-thawed spermatozoa TM and PM of the 1:3 group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of the other groups under the condition of 1:2 dilution of diluent II. The post-thawed spermatozoa TM, PM, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity of the two-step group (1:3, 1:2) were the highest and significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the other groups. Additionally, the post-thawed spermatozoa ROS level of the two-step group (1:3, 1:2) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that in the one-step groups (1:5 and 1:11). Therefore, a two-step dilution (1:3, 1:2) was found to be the most suitable method and ratio for diluting the Hu ram semen after cryopreservation.

An electrochemical immunosensor based on hybrid self-assembled monolayers for rapid detection of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is highly contagious and poses a serious threat to sericulture production. Because there are currently no effective treatments for BmNPV, a rapid and simple detection method is urgently needed. This paper describes an electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of BmNPV. The immunosensor was fabricated by covalently immobilizing anti-BmNPV, a biorecognition element, onto the surface of the working gold electrode via 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)/ß-mercaptoethanol (ME) hybrid self-assembled monolayers. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the electrochemical performance and morphology of the immunosensor, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the developed immunosensor exhibited a linear response to BmNPV polyhedrin in the range of 1 × 102-1 × 108 fg/mL, with a low detection limit of 14.54 fg/mL. The immunosensor also exhibited remarkable repeatability, reproducibility, specificity, accuracy, and regeneration. Normal silkworm blood was mixed with BmNPV polyhedrin and analyzed quantitatively using this sensor, and the recovery was 92.31 %-100.61 %. Additionally, the sensor was used to analyze silkworm blood samples at different time points after BmNPV infection, and an obvious antigen signal was detected at 12 h post infection. Although this result agreed with that provided by the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, the electroanalysis method established in this study was simpler, shorter in detection period, and lower in material cost. Furthermore, this innovative electrochemical immunosensor, developed for the ultra-sensitive and rapid detection of BmNPV, can be used for the early detection of virus-infected silkworms.

Astaxanthin Improved the Quality of Hu Ram Semen by Increasing the Antioxidant Capacity and Mitochondrial Potential and Mitigating Free Radicals-Induced Oxidative Damage.

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of astaxanthin supplementations of semen extender on the quality of Hu ram semen after up to five days of preservation at 4 °C. Semen samples were collected from five healthy Hu rams using an artificial vagina during breeding season (April to August 2023) and diluted with a basic extender supplemented with control (0), 1 µM, 2 µM, 3.5 µM, or 4.5 µM of AXT. Overall, 170 semen ejaculate samples (34 repetitions) from five healthy Hu rams were used in our research study. The results revealed that the addition of AXT (3.5 µM) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the sperm kinematic indexes (T.M%, P.M%, MAD%, STR%, and LIN %), sperm viability, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, total antioxidant content (T-AOC), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of the Hu rams spermatozoa after up to five days of preservation at 4 °C. Contrary to that, the addition of the best concentration of AXT (3.5 µM) to the semen extender significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of Hu ram semen. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicate that the addition of a semen extender with AXT improves the quality of Hu ram spermatozoa by increasing the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). On the other hand, reducing free radicals induced oxidative (ROS) and per oxidative (MDA) damage to Hu ram semen.

Punicalagin Protects Ram Sperm from Oxidative Stress by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Mitochondrial Potential during Liquid Storage at 4 °C.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of punicalagin, an antioxidant, on ram sperm quality. Semen samples were collected and pooled from five rams, then diluted using a Tris-based diluent containing various concentrations (0, 5, 15, 30 and 45 µM) of punicalagin. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured and analyzed during liquid storage at 4 °C. The results showed that the Tris-based solution containing punicalagin improved sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, TAC, SOD, CAT and MMP, and decreased ROS content and MDA content. At the same time, the semen sample diluted with the Tris-based solution supplemented with 30 µM punicalagin achieved the best effect. The sperm total motility, progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, TAC, SOD, CAT and MMP of the group supplemented with 30 µM punicalagin were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the other groups on the 5th day during the liquid storage at 4 °C. Meanwhile, the ROS content and MDA content were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those in the other groups. In conclusion, the optimal concentration of punicalagin in the Hu ram semen diluent was determined to be 30 µM. The results indicated that a diluent supplemented with punicalagin could enhance the quality of ram sperm preserved at 4 °C by increasing antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial potential and reducing oxidative stress.

Different bone health progression patterns and early-stage risk marker in glucocorticoid-treated ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Fractures often cause irreversible harm in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This study investigated the trajectory of bone mineral density (BMD) using group-based trajectory modeling and identified that BMD acts as an early-stage indicator of clinically significant bone fragility. The greater the early-stage BMD, the better the 4-year bone health outcome. PURPOSE: Most Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) children suffer bone loss after long-term glucocorticoid (GC) exposure, which induces scoliosis and fragility fractures. To assess the BMD progression pattern and individual medical risk markers for these phenotypes in young ambulatory boys with DMD, and provide evidence-based suggestions for clinical management of bone health. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 153 boys with DMD in West China Second University Hospital (2016-2023) was performed. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to study the BMD progression pattern, and potential predictors were further analyzed by logistic regression and survival analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-three participants were included, 71 of which had more than 3 BMD records. Three BMD trajectories were identified. Baseline BMD and age-started GC and were independent predictors of trajectory attribution. The median survival time of the first observation of low BMD in GC-treated DMD boys was 5.32 (95% CI 4.05-6.59) years, and a significant difference was tested (P < 0.001) among the three trajectory groups. CONCLUSION: BMD may serve as a novel early indicating marker for monitoring bone fragility for DMD. We proposed a bone health risk stratification through BMD progression trajectory that allows us to adapt the osteoporosis warning sign in DMD from a fixed threshold approach to a more individualized strategy, where baseline BMD and age of glucocorticoid initiation can provide an earlier prediction of bone loss. Better management of primary BMD may be able to delay or avoid the onset of adverse bone health outcomes in the fifth year in children with DMD.

Genomic dissection of additive and non-additive genetic effects and genomic prediction in an open-pollinated family test of Japanese larch.

Genomic dissection of genetic effects on desirable traits and the subsequent use of genomic selection hold great promise for accelerating the rate of genetic improvement of forest tree species. In this study, a total of 661 offspring trees from 66 open-pollinated families of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lam.) Carrière) were sampled at a test site. The contributions of additive and non-additive effects (dominance, imprinting and epistasis) were evaluated for nine valuable traits related to growth, wood physical and chemical properties, and competitive ability using three pedigree-based and four Genomics-based Best Linear Unbiased Predictions (GBLUP) models and used to determine the genetic model. The predictive ability (PA) of two genomic prediction methods, GBLUP and Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces (RKHS), was compared. The traits could be classified into two types based on different quantitative genetic architectures: for type I, including wood chemical properties and Pilodyn penetration, additive effect is the main source of variation (38.20-67.46%); for type II, including growth, competitive ability and acoustic velocity, epistasis plays a significant role (50.76-91.26%). Dominance and imprinting showed low to moderate contributions (< 36.26%). GBLUP was more suitable for traits of type I (PAs = 0.37-0.39 vs. 0.14-0.25), and RKHS was more suitable for traits of type II (PAs = 0.23-0.37 vs. 0.07-0.23). Non-additive effects make no meaningful contribution to the enhancement of PA of GBLUP method for all traits. These findings enhance our current understanding of the architecture of quantitative traits and lay the foundation for the development of genomic selection strategies in Japanese larch.