Understanding the genetic mechanisms that underlie innate fear behavior is essential for improving the management and performance of the poultry industry. This study aimed to map QTL associated with ...innate fear responses in open field (OF) and tonic immobility (TI) tests, using an F2 chicken intercross population between two behaviorally distinct breeds: the aggressive Japanese Oh-Shamo (OSM) and the docile White Leghorn T-line (WL-T). Genome-wide QTL analysis for the OF and TI traits was conducted using 2,109 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers obtained through restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). While several suggestive QTL were identified for TI and OF traits at genome-wide 20% significance threshold levels, the analysis revealed two significant QTL for two OF traits (total distance and maximum speed) at genome-wide 5% significance threshold levels. These significant QTL were located between 12.34 and 30.49 megabase (Mb) on chromosome 1 and between 40.02 and 63.38 Mb on chromosome 2, explaining 6.75-7.40% of the total variances. These findings provide valuable insights for the poultry industry, particularly in refining chicken management strategies and informing targeted breeding efforts.
The Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain is controlled by an imprinting control region (ICR) called IG-DMR that is hypomethylated on the maternal allele and hypermethylated on the paternal allele. Although ...several genetic mutation experiments have shown that IG-DMR is essential for imprinting control of the domain, how DNA methylation itself functions has not been elucidated. Here, we performed both gain and loss of DNA methylation experiments targeting IG-DMR by transiently introducing CRISPR/Cas9 based-targeted DNA methylation editing tools along with one guide RNA into mouse ES cells. Altered DNA methylation, particularly at IG-DMR-Rep, which is a tandem repeat containing ZFP57 methylated DNA-binding protein binding motifs, affected the imprinting state of the whole domain, including DNA methylation, imprinted gene expression, and histone modifications. Moreover, the altered imprinting states were persistent through neuronal differentiation. Our results suggest that the DNA methylation state at IG-DMR-Rep, but not other sites in IG-DMR, is a master element to determine whether the allele behaves as the intrinsic maternal or paternal allele. Meanwhile, this study provides a robust strategy and methodology to study core DNA methylation in cis-regulatory elements, such as ICRs and enhancers.
This study aimed to develop a new method to quantitatively analyze body shape changes in patients during radiotherapy without additional radiation exposure using an optical surface tracking system. ...This method’s accuracy was evaluated using a cubic phantom with a known shift. Surface images of three-dimensionally printed phantoms, which simulated the head and neck shapes of real patients before and after treatment, were used to create a deformation surface area histogram. The near-maximum deformation value covering an area of 2 cm
2
in the surface image (Def-2cm
2
) was calculated. A volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan was also created on the pre-treatment phantom, and the dose distribution was recalculated on the post-treatment phantom to compare the dose indices. Surface images of four patients were analyzed to evaluate Def-2cm
2
and examine whether this method can be used in clinical cases. Experiments with the cubic phantom resulted in a mean deformation error of 0.08 mm. With head and neck phantoms, the Def-2cm
2
value was 17.5 mm, and the dose that covered 95% of the planning target volume in the VMAT plan decreased by 11.7%, indicating that deformation of the body surface may affect the dose distribution. Although analysis of the clinical data showed no clinically relevant deformation in any of the cases, slight skin sagging and respiratory changes in the body surface were observed. The proposed method can quantitatively and accurately evaluate the deformation of a body surface. This method is expected to be used to make decisions regarding modifications to treatment plans.
The in situ surface modification of InN films by nitrogen (N) radical beam irradiation was investigated using different substrate temperatures, plasma powers, and irradiation times. The changes in ...the surface morphology and electrical properties of the irradiated InN templates were studied. It was confirmed that N radical beam irradiation could modify the InN template's surface morphology. Furthermore, a comparison with annealing without N radical beam irradiation revealed that the N radical beam irradiation on the InN template could modify the surface morphology of the template and suppress InN thermal decomposition.
Fully dense B4C/CNF composites have been fabricated from the mixture of amorphous fine powders of boron and carbon, and carbon nano-fiber (CNF) using pulsed electric-current pressure sintering ...(PECPS) at 2173K (1900 degree C) for 10min under 30MPa in a vacuum. They showed a moderate mechanical properties at room temperature: bending strength sigma b more than 450MPa, Vickers hardness H v of 29-36GPa, and fracture toughness K IC ranging from 4.1 to 5.7MPam1/2. However, they revealed extraordinary high strength more than 600MPa at 1673-1873K (1400-1600 degree C) in an inert gas atmosphere, especially, sigma b of 830MPa at 1773K (1500 degree C) (12.5vol% CNF added composite) and sigma b of 800MPa at 1873K (1600 degree C) (10.0vol% CNF added composite). In addition, these B4C/CNF composites also showed much improved high-temperature fracture toughness by a factor of around 20, in comparison with monolithic B4C ceramics at 1773K (1500 degree C). These extraordinary both high strength and toughness might be explained in terms of the suppression of grain growth by CNF at elevated temperatures, an inverse strength temperature-dependence for carbides, and anchor effect induced by CNF.
Background and Aim
The feasibility of TDM‐621, the synthetic infectious agent‐free peptides, was tested in hemostasis of the bleeding after endoscopic treatments of the gastric tumors.
Methods
The ...patients who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) were enrolled in the present study. The subject of hemostasis was the oozing after the EMR or ESD. The hemostatic effect, the secondary hemorrhage from one postoperative day to the day before discharge and operability were studied.
Results
The hemostatic effects were assessed in 12 patients. It was “remarkably effective” in 11 patients and “effective” in 1 patient. The operability was “very easy” in two patients, “easy” in eight patients and “acceptable” in two patients. No secondary hemorrhage was observed in all of 12 patients. No adverse effect considered to be related to TDM‐621 was observed.
Conclusion
It was shown that hemostasis using TDM‐621 was feasible after endoscopic treatments of the gastric tumors without any technical trouble or adverse event.
Haematopoietic insufficiency is the treatment target of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Although erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are generally effective for treating anaemia, ...resistance can develop. Hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) improves renal anaemia by promoting endogenous erythropoietin production and normalizing iron metabolism. HIF-PH inhibitors could be used to treat MDS, but their efficacy and safety have not been studied. A 78-year-old female patient with essential thrombocythemia gradually developed anaemia and was diagnosed with therapy-related MDS 4 years later. The anaemia temporarily improved with ESAs, but the patient became transfusion dependent. At the same time, anaemia and chronic renal failure due to nephrosclerosis progressed, and the patient was diagnosed with MDS with renal anaemia. After switching from ESAs to roxadustat, an HIF-PH inhibitor, anaemia improved, and the patient was no longer transfusion dependent. No progression of the underlying disease or any adverse events was observed 4 months after initiating roxadustat.
Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analyses for internal egg quality of chickens were performed with 143 microsatellite markers on 27 linkage groups in 371 F2 hens obtained from an intercross between ...Japanese Large Game (Oh-Shamo) and White Leghorn breeds. Internal egg traits, such as weight and size of the albumen, weight and size of the yolk, and yolk colors, were measured in three different egg laying stages (early, middle, and late stages). We detected 11 significant and four suggestive QTLs with main effects on 27 internal egg traits in the three stages. Albumen weight and size QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 27, and Z. Yolk weight and size QTLs were discovered on chromosomes 4, 7, 8, 15, and Z, whereas yolk color QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 27. Moreover, we revealed four significant and two suggestive QTLs with epistatic interaction effects on three internal egg traits in the late stage. This is the first report of epistatic QTLs for internal egg traits in chickens. The four significant loci were on chromosomes 1, 2, 8, and 17 and affected yolk size and yolk color, whereas the two suggestive loci were located on chromosomes 2 and 10 and affected albumen height. Among these epistatic QTLs, the two QTLs detected on chromosomes 1 and 8 were found at the regions of main-effect QTLs. The present main and epistatic QTLs accounted for 3.61-18.46% of the phenotypic variances. The chromosomes 1 and 8 QTLs with main effects on internal egg traits exerted their effects throughout all three stages, whereas the other QTLs with main- or epistatic-effects were detected in one or two stages. These results demonstrated that age-related changes of QTLs will make the genetic features of quantitative traits more complex.
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