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Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Novel and Differential Circular RNA Responses Underlying Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Regulation in Porcine Alveolar Macrophages
Full text linkPorcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses in the swine industry. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of stable non-coding RNAs, are increasingly recognized as regulators in immune responses and host–virus interactions. This study investigated the genome-wide circRNA responses in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), key cell targets of PRRSV, following treatment with a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine or two interferon (IFN) subtypes (IFN-α1, IFN-ω5). Using RNA sequencing, we identified over 1000 differentially expressed circRNAs across treatment groups, revealing both conserved and distinct expression profiles. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that circRNA-associated genes are significantly enriched in immune-related processes and pathways, including cytokine signaling and antiviral defense. Notably, IFN-ω5 treatment induced a pronounced circRNA response, aligning with its potent antiviral activity. We further explored the regulatory potential of these circRNAs by predicting miRNA binding sites, revealing complex circRNA-miRNA interaction networks. Additionally, we assessed the coding potential of differentially expressed circRNAs by identifying open reading frames (ORFs), internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification sites, suggesting a subset may undergo non-canonical translation. These findings provide a comprehensive landscape of circRNA expression in PAMs under different antiviral conditions, highlighting their potential roles as immune regulators and novel players in interferon-mediated antiviral responses, particularly downstream of IFN-ω5. This work contributes to understanding the non-coding RNA landscape in the PRRSV-swine model and suggests circRNAs as potential targets for future antiviral strategies
An Artificial Neural Network-Based Battery Management System for LiFePO4 Batteries
Full text linkWe present a reduced-order battery management system (BMS) for lithium-ion cells in electric and hybrid vehicles that couples a physics-based single-particle model (SPM) derived from the Cahn–Hilliard phase-field formulation with a lumped heat-transfer model. A three-dimensional COMSOL® 5.0 simulation of a LiFePO4 particle produced voltage and temperature data across ambient temperatures (253–298 K) and discharge rates (1 C–20.5 C). Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced this dataset to five latent variables, which we then mapped to experimental voltage–temperature profiles of an A123 Systems 26650 2.3 Ah cell using a self-normalizing neural network (SNN). The resulting ROM achieves real-time prediction accuracy comparable to detailed models while retaining essential electrothermal dynamics
Growth Performance of French Guinea Fowl Broilers Fed the Probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri and Streptomyces coelicolor
Full text linkThe continuous use of antibiotics is associated with many complications in the poultry industry. Probiotics have emerged as a viable alternative over the past few decades to counter the adverse effects of antibiotics. No candidate probiotic microorganisms have been fully evaluated in the poultry industry for their effectiveness as potential probiotics in guinea fowls (GFs) compared to chickens. Recently, a metagenome evaluation of GFs in our laboratory revealed a predominance of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) and actinobacteria class of bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study is to evaluate a well-known lactic acid probiotic bacterium (L. reuteri) and a unique probiotic (S. coelicolor) that has not been assessed in any guinea fowl species. In the current study, L. reuteri and Streptomyces coelicolor (S. coelicolor) were selected as probiotic bacteria, encapsulated, and added into French guinea fowl (FGF) feed individually at a concentration of 108 cfu/g or both microorganisms combined each at 104 cfu/g. In an 8-week study, 216-day-old guinea keets were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments as indicated: (1) L. reuteri (108 cfu/g); (2) S. coelicolor (108 cfu/g); (3) mixture of L. reuteri (104 cfu/g) and S. coelicolor (104 cfu/g); and (4) control treatment (no probiotics included). The L. reuteri, S. coelicolor, and L. reuteri + S. coelicolor were added into the feed using wheat middlings as a carrier at a final concentration of 108 cfu/g. The FGFs that were fed diets containing L. reuteri showed improved feed consumption at 3–8 weeks of age (WOA). The guineas fed L. reuteri and S. coelicolor showed a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR), which was significant at 2 and 8 WOA, and a numerically lower 8-week average FCR when compared with other dietary treatments. Differences in body weight gain among all dietary treatments were not significant. This research suggests that L. reuteri and S. coelicolor may have the potential for use as probiotics in FGFs when used in combination or separately
