Black spots could be induced in red tilapia at wintering stage. This body color variation causes significant economic loss to the aquaculture industry of red tilapia. Understanding the genetic ...architecture of wintering black spot variation is of great significance for the selection of pure red tilapia lines. In this study, 37 SNPs and five QTLs controlling for the wintering black spot trait at genome-wide significance were successfully identified on Chr2:4.6–4.9 Mb, Chr2:20.0 Mb, Chr3:30.1–34.0 Mb, Chr8:4.0–6.1 Mb, Chr12:5.9–7.5 Mb in red tilapia (N = 287) by using a genome-wide association study. These QTLs were further verified by genotyping four novel microsatellite markers in the mapping population. Three candidate genes (sema-4c, uvssa and htr2cl1) in these QTL regions showed significantly differentiated expression in response to low temperature (LT) or UVB or UVB + LT challenges in brain or skin tissues of red tilapia as revealed by qRT-PCR analysis. Interestingly, the expression levels of the three candidate genes were more significantly changed under the UVB+ LT stressors than the LT or UVB stress solely. These suggested that the wintering black spots in red tilapia may be regulated by comprehensive environmental factors.
•37 SNPs associated with wintering black spot trait were successfully identified in red tilapia.•QTLs were verified in the mapping population using four microsatellite markers.•Three candidate genes showed significant responses to challenges in red tilapia.
Objective The recently reported endoscopic finding of black spots is defined as black pigmentation in gastric mucosa. We attempted to clarify the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori ...infection status and black spot occurrence. Subjects and methods The study subjects were 1,600 individuals who underwent an annual medical checkup and whose H. pylori status could be determined. Upper endoscopic examinations were performed in all, and the presence of black spots in the stomach as well as the degree of gastric mucosal atrophy were determined. Results Among the 1,600 enrolled subjects, 784 underwent eradication for H. pylori, of whom 144 were originally H. pylori-positive and 672 H. pylori-negative. Black spots in the stomach were observed in 156 (9.8%). The rate of prevalence of black spots in the H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative subjects was 2.1% and 1.5%, respectively, while that in subjects after undergoing eradication of H. pylori was 18.2%. A multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that an older age and post-eradication status were significant factors for black spot occurrence, while proton pump inhibitor treatment showed a tendency to be a risk factor. In subjects with post-eradication status, a higher grade of gastric mucosal atrophy was a significant risk factor for the occurrence of black spots. Conclusion H. pylori post-eradication status and an older age were significant factors related to the appearance of black spots, and a higher grade of gastric mucosal atrophy was also a significant risk factor in subjects who had undergone successful eradication.
To develop a successful strategy for improving road safety, the initial step involves is to identify the black spots that are more susceptible to high-risk traffic accidents. However, due to the high ...cost of implementing safety measures in these locations, only a limited number of spots/sites can be thoroughly examined with the available funding. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the high-risk sites and their corresponding safety measures in order to make the most efficient use of the available finances. Hence, this paper presents black spots ranking and low-cost countermeasures based on the Perak Federal trunk road traffic crash (RTC) data for three years from 2018 to 2020 recorded by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). The weightage point method was used for each black spot ranking exercise where as, the selection for countermeasures were based on RTC situations which are norms practiced by the Public Works Department (PWD). In total 22 black spots were ranked and it was found that the highest rank of the 2020 black spots in Perak was along route FT005 in Kinta district which had 18 RTCs and with a total weightage points (TWP) of 118.2. In balancing between limited financial allocation and improving road safety, the countermeasures were priorotized for implementation in 2021 based on the black spots ranking results. However, only six black spots were treated in 2021 with the entire cost was RM 1,834,027.19. Where for route FT005 in Kinta district, the countermeasure was done at Section 684 with a total cost of RM350,000 under the 2022 black spots countermeasure program which is an annual program funded by the Ministry of Works Malaysia. It is recommended that Perak State PWD form a Road Safety Unit to reduce the black spots along the state roads which is the second highest road fatalities recorded in Perak.
Melanized focal changes in white skeletal muscle of farmed Atlantic salmon, "black spots", is a quality problem affecting on average 20% of slaughtered fish. The spots appear initially as "red spots" ...characterized by hemorrhages and acute inflammation and progress into black spots characterized by chronic inflammation and abundant pigmented cells.
1 (PRV-1) was previously found to be associated with macrophages and melano-macrophages in red and black spots. Here we have addressed the inflammatory microenvironment of red and black spots by studying the polarization status of the macrophages and cell mediated immune responses in spots, in both PRV-1 infected and non-infected fish. Samples that had been collected at regular intervals through the seawater production phase in a commercial farm were analyzed by multiplex fluorescent
hybridization (FISH) and RT-qPCR methods. Detection of abundant inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS2) expressing M1-polarized macrophages in red spots demonstrated a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. There was an almost perfect co-localization with the iNOS2 expression and PRV-1 infection. Black spots, on the other side, had few iNOS2 expressing cells, but a relatively high number of arginase-2 expressing anti-inflammatory M2-polarized macrophages containing melanin. The numerous M2-polarized melano-macrophages in black spots indicate an ongoing healing phase. Co-localization of PRV-1 and cells expressing CD8
and MHC-I suggests a targeted immune response taking place in the spots. Altogether, this study indicates that PRV-1 induces a pro-inflammatory environment that is important for the pathogenesis of the spots. We do not have indication that infection of PRV-1 is the initial causative agent of this condition.
Fatal hypothermia represents a diagnostic challenge in veterinary pathology. Wischnewski spots (WS) and black oesophagus (BO) have been described in human cases of fatal hypothermia but rarely in ...animals. We now describe WS and BO in suspected fatal hypothermia in a free-ranging brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) and a pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Both animals had dark spots resembling WS on the gastric mucosa and the monkey also had BO with haematin deposition. In both cases, stress factors and relatively cold environmental conditions were present prior to death.
The influence of electropulsing treatment on black spots in Ti-5Al-5Mo-5 V-1Cr-1Fe titanium alloy has been investigated. Comparing samples processed by electropulsing heat treatment (EHT) with the ...sample heated by conventional heat treatment (CHT), the recovery and recrystallization of the black spots regions are greatly accelerated by EHT. It is also found that the micro-hardness of the CHT sample is almost the same as that of the received one. While the micro-hardness of EHT sample is smaller than CHT one, and increased with increasing joule temperature.
•Electropulsing treatment is used to eliminate black spot defects.•Electropulsing treatment greatly accelerates the the recovery and recrystallization.•Micro-hardness increases with the increase of the electropulsing treatment temperature.
Recently, in Russia, it has become relevant to conduct “audits of black spots”. It is a type of an independent audit and evaluation of the traffic safety level in the location under survey, ...determination of patterns in road accident causes and corresponding measures for their prevention. Traffic safety can be evaluated based on various criteria, but the reduction of the number of road accidents, especially those with injuries, has always been the most important criterion of traffic safety. In this paper, an analysis of factors that can affect elements of subsystems and the traffic safety system, in general, is conducted. Practical recommendations are provided.
Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) is one of the leading causes of death across the globe. As per the Indian government statistics, 150,785 persons were killed and 494,624 injured in road traffic crashes ...in the year 2016. In the recent past Government of India has formulated policies to reduce the road traffic crashes on Indian highways with prime focus on the National Highways (NHs). One of the dimensions of these policies is the identification and rectification of black spots on NHs and State Highways (SHs). Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) provides a definition and protocol for identifying black spots, and subsequently, states have identified black spots on their NHs. Top priority has been accorded to the correction of black spots on NHs. Consequently, short-term measures such as rumble strips, reflective stickers at junctions, fixing signboard/cautionary board, providing signages and various other speed restrictions are also being used. Whereas, the long-term measures such as the construction of the vehicular underpass, by-pass, flyover, and lane widening are being taken up. This study aims to present the current scenario of the policies pertaining to black spots in the country. This study assesses the effectiveness of the policies focused on the identification and rectification of black spots on the NHs. Further, it highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the policies based on the outcomes of the audit conducted to review the road safety status on Indian Highways. This study also recommends the measures to improve the safety at black spots locations.
Accident black spots are usually defined as road locations with a high risk of fatal accidents. A thorough analysis of these areas is essential to determine the real causes of mortality due to these ...accidents and can thus help anticipate the necessary decisions to be made to mitigate their effects. In this context, this study aims to develop a model for the identification, classification and analysis of black spots on roads in Morocco. These areas are first identified using extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm, and then the infrastructure factors are analyzed by ordinal regression. The XGBoost model is adopted for weighted severity index (WSI) generation, which in turn generates the severity scores to be assigned to individual road segments. The latter are then classified into four classes by using a categorization approach (high, medium, low and safe). Finally, the bagging extreme learning machine is used to classify the severity of road segments according to infrastructures and environmental factors. Simulation results show that the proposed framework accurately and efficiently identified the black spots and outperformed the reputable competing models, especially in terms of accuracy 98.6%. In conclusion, the ordinal analysis revealed that pavement width, road curve type, shoulder width and position were the significant factors contributing to accidents on rural roads.
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