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Large-scale molecular phylogenetic studies of the avian order Strigiformes have been performed, and numerous mitochondrial genomes have been determined. However, their intergeneric relationships are still controversial, and few comprehensive comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes have been conducted on Strigiformes. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Otus lettia was determined and compared with other Strigiformes. The O. lettia mitochondrial genome was 16,951 bp in size. For Strigiformes, atp8 can be used as a suitable molecular marker for population genetic diversity, while cox1 is a candidate barcoding marker for species identification. All protein-coding genes may be under strong purifying selection pressure, and one extra cytosine insertion located in nad3 is common to all owls except Tyto longimembris, T. alba, and Athene noctua. Four different mitochondrial gene arrangement types were found among the Strigiformes mitogenomes, and their evolutionary relationship between each other can be perfectly explained by the tandem duplication and random loss model. The phylogenetic topologies using the mitochondrial genomes showed that target species O. lettia had a closer relationship with O. scops + O. sunia than O. bakkamoena, the genus Glaucidium was paraphyletic, and the Ninox clade was located at the basal position of Strigidae lineage. Our phylogenetic trees also supported the previous recommendations that Sceloglaux albifacies, Ciccaba nigrolineata, and Ketupa flavipes should be transferred to Ninox, Strix, and Bubo, respectively. These findings will be helpful in further unraveling the mitochondrial evolution and phylogeny of Strigiformes.

Tarsiger indicus (Vieillot, 1817), the White-browed Bush Robin, is a small passerine bird widely distributed in Asian countries. Here, we successfully sequenced its mitogenome using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) for PE 2 × 150 bp sequencing. Combined with other published mitogenomes, we conducted the first comprehensive comparative mitogenome analysis of Muscicapidae birds and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships between Muscicapidae and related groups. The T. indicus mitogenome was 16,723 bp in size, and it possessed the typical avian mitogenome structure and organization. Most PCGs of T. indicus were initiated strictly with the typical start codon ATG, while COX1 and ND2 were started with GTG. RSCU statistics showed that CUA, CGA, and GCC were relatively high frequency in the T. indicus mitogenome. T. cyanurus and T. indicus shared very similar mitogenomic features. All 13 PCGs of Muscicapidae mitogenomes had experienced purifying selection. Specifically, ATP8 had the highest rate of evolution (0.13296), whereas COX1 had the lowest (0.01373). The monophylies of Muscicapidae, Turdidae, and Paradoxornithidae were strongly supported. The clade of ((Muscicapidae + Turdidae) + Sturnidae) in Passeriformes was supported by both Bayesian Inference and Maximum likelihood analyses. The latest taxonomic status of many passerine birds with complex taxonomic histories were also supported. For example, Monticola gularis, T. indicus, and T. cyanurus were allocated to Turdidae in other literature; our phylogenetic topologies clearly supported their membership in Muscicapidae; Paradoxornis heudei, Suthora webbiana, S. nipalensis, and S. fulvifrons were formerly classified into Muscicapidae; we supported their membership in Paradoxornithidae; Culicicapa ceylonensis was originally classified as a member of Muscicapidae; our results are consistent with a position in Stenostiridae. Our study enriches the genetic data of T. indicus and provides new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of passerine birds.

Tarsiger indicus (Vieillot, 1817), the White-browed Bush Robin, is a small passerine bird widely distributed in Asian countries. Here, we successfully sequenced its mitogenome using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) for PE 2 × 150 bp sequencing. Combined with other published mitogenomes, we conducted the first comprehensive comparative mitogenome analysis of Muscicapidae birds and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships between Muscicapidae and related groups. The T. indicus mitogenome was 16,723 bp in size, and it possessed the typical avian mitogenome structure and organization. Most PCGs of T. indicus were initiated strictly with the typical start codon ATG, while COX1 and ND2 were started with GTG. RSCU statistics showed that CUA, CGA, and GCC were relatively high frequency in the T. indicus mitogenome. T. cyanurus and T. indicus shared very similar mitogenomic features. All 13 PCGs of Muscicapidae mitogenomes had experienced purifying selection. Specifically, ATP8 had the highest rate of evolution (0.13296), whereas COX1 had the lowest (0.01373). The monophylies of Muscicapidae, Turdidae, and Paradoxornithidae were strongly supported. The clade of ((Muscicapidae + Turdidae) + Sturnidae) in Passeriformes was supported by both Bayesian Inference and Maximum likelihood analyses. The latest taxonomic status of many passerine birds with complex taxonomic histories were also supported. For example, Monticola gularis, T. indicus, and T. cyanurus were allocated to Turdidae in other literature; our phylogenetic topologies clearly supported their membership in Muscicapidae; Paradoxornis heudei, Suthora webbiana, S. nipalensis, and S. fulvifrons were formerly classified into Muscicapidae; we supported their membership in Paradoxornithidae; Culicicapa ceylonensis was originally classified as a member of Muscicapidae; our results are consistent with a position in Stenostiridae. Our study enriches the genetic data of T. indicus and provides new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of passerine birds.

The virome in genital tract secretion samples collected from 80 dairy cattle in Shanghai, China, was characterized. Viruses detected included members of the families Papillomaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Hepeviridae, Parvoviridae, Astroviridae, Picornaviridae, and Picobirnaviridae. A member of a new species within the genus Dyoxipapillomavirus and six circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) (CRESS-DNA) viral genomes were fully sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. The prevalence of bovine polyomaviruses 1 and 2 was measured by PCR to be 10% (8/80) and 6.25% (5/80), respectively. PCR screening also indicated that the novel papillomavirus ujs-21015 and bovine herpesvirus 6 were present in three and two out of the 80 samples, respectively.

Ticks rank second in the world as vectors of disease. Tick infestation is one of the factors threatening the health and survival of giant pandas. Here, we describe the mitogenomes of Ixodes acutitarsus and Ixodes ovatus parasitizing giant pandas, and perform comparative and phylogenetic genomic analyses on the newly sequenced and other available mitogenomes of hard ticks. All six newly determined mitogenomes contain a typical gene component and share an ancient Arthropoda gene arrangement pattern. Our study suggests that I. ovatus is a species complex with high genetic divergence, indicating that different clades of I. ovatus represent distinct species. Comparative mitogenomic analyses show that the average A + T content of Ixodidae mitogenomes is 78.08%, their GC-skews are strongly negative, while AT-skews fluctuate around 0. A large number of microsatellites are detected in Ixodidae mitogenomes, and the main microsatellite motifs are mononucleotide A and trinucleotide AAT. We summarize five gene arrangement types, and identify the trnY-COX1-trnS1-COX2-trnK-ATP8-ATP6-COX3-trnG fragment is the most conserved region, whereas the region near the control region is the rearrangement hotspot in Ixodidae mitogenomes. The phylogenetic trees based on 15 genes provide a very convincing relationship (Ixodes + (Robertsicus + ((Bothriocroton + Haemaphysalis) + (Amblyomma + (Dermacentor + (Rhipicentor + (Hyalomma + Rhipicephalus))) with very strong supports. Remarkably, Archaeocroton sphenodonti is embedded in the Haemaphysalis clade with strong supports, resulting in paraphyly of the Haemaphysalis genus, so in-depth morphological and molecular studies are essential to determine the taxonomic status of A. sphenodonti and its closely related species. Our results provide new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of hard ticks, as well as basic data for population genetics assessment and efficient surveillance and control for the giant panda-infesting ticks.

Ticks rank second in the world as vectors of disease. Tick infestation is one of the factors threatening the health and survival of giant pandas. Here, we describe the mitogenomes of Ixodes acutitarsus and Ixodes ovatus parasitizing giant pandas, and perform comparative and phylogenetic genomic analyses on the newly sequenced and other available mitogenomes of hard ticks. All six newly determined mitogenomes contain a typical gene component and share an ancient Arthropoda gene arrangement pattern. Our study suggests that I. ovatus is a species complex with high genetic divergence, indicating that different clades of I. ovatus represent distinct species. Comparative mitogenomic analyses show that the average A + T content of Ixodidae mitogenomes is 78.08%, their GC-skews are strongly negative, while AT-skews fluctuate around 0. A large number of microsatellites are detected in Ixodidae mitogenomes, and the main microsatellite motifs are mononucleotide A and trinucleotide AAT. We summarize five gene arrangement types, and identify the trnY-COX1-trnS1-COX2-trnK-ATP8-ATP6-COX3-trnG fragment is the most conserved region, whereas the region near the control region is the rearrangement hotspot in Ixodidae mitogenomes. The phylogenetic trees based on 15 genes provide a very convincing relationship (Ixodes + (Robertsicus + ((Bothriocroton + Haemaphysalis) + (Amblyomma + (Dermacentor + (Rhipicentor + (Hyalomma + Rhipicephalus))) with very strong supports. Remarkably, Archaeocroton sphenodonti is embedded in the Haemaphysalis clade with strong supports, resulting in paraphyly of the Haemaphysalis genus, so in-depth morphological and molecular studies are essential to determine the taxonomic status of A. sphenodonti and its closely related species. Our results provide new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of hard ticks, as well as basic data for population genetics assessment and efficient surveillance and control for the giant panda-infesting ticks.

Understanding how population density relates to habitat underlies basic ecological theory and is pertinent to conservation issues. Chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii) are an endangered steppe-dwelling ungulate endemic to the Tibetan plateau. To prepare effective conservation and management strategies for this species, we require detailed knowledge of the relationship between group size and habitat conditions. We surveyed the Chang Tang region of Tibet and used data collected along vehicular line transects to record the presence and group size of chiru. Using ecological niche factor analysis, we inferred the ecological requirements of chiru in relation to a large number of topographic, vegetation, and anthropogenic variables. We used these analyses to estimate habitat suitability models and describe their optimum range. Areas favored by chiru had moderate grazing by domestic animals, gentle slopes, and villages present only at lower altitudes. Chiru showed a high level of specialization regarding the presence of villages and gentle slopes, and were negatively associated with areas of those easily accessed by people. We suggest new management measures for the long-term conservation of chiru. Specifically, we focus on the rehabilitation of natural plains for grazing by chiru, recognizing that conservation of large groups may require special efforts. For smaller groups and solitary chiru, the large tracts of unsuitable or marginal areas may expose them to different threats that could pose greater challenges for conservation management. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.

Large-scale molecular phylogenetic studies of the avian order Strigiformes have been performed, and numerous mitochondrial genomes have been determined. However, their intergeneric relationships are still controversial, and few comprehensive comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes have been conducted on Strigiformes. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Otus lettia was determined and compared with other Strigiformes. The O. lettia mitochondrial genome was 16,951 bp in size. For Strigiformes, atp8 can be used as a suitable molecular marker for population genetic diversity, while cox1 is a candidate barcoding marker for species identification. All protein-coding genes may be under strong purifying selection pressure, and one extra cytosine insertion located in nad3 is common to all owls except Tyto longimembris, T. alba, and Athene noctua. Four different mitochondrial gene arrangement types were found among the Strigiformes mitogenomes, and their evolutionary relationship between each other can be perfectly explained by the tandem duplication and random loss model. The phylogenetic topologies using the mitochondrial genomes showed that target species O. lettia had a closer relationship with O. scops + O. sunia than O. bakkamoena, the genus Glaucidium was paraphyletic, and the Ninox clade was located at the basal position of Strigidae lineage. Our phylogenetic trees also supported the previous recommendations that Sceloglaux albifacies, Ciccaba nigrolineata, and Ketupa flavipes should be transferred to Ninox, Strix, and Bubo, respectively. These findings will be helpful in further unraveling the mitochondrial evolution and phylogeny of Strigiformes.

Background Most studies have shown that maternal age is associated with birth weight. However, the specific relationship between each additional year of maternal age and birth weight remains unclear. The study aimed to analyze the specific association between maternal age and birth weight. Methods Raw data for all live births from 2015 to 2018 were obtained from the Medical Birth Registry of Xi’an, China. A total of 490,143 mother-child pairs with full-term singleton live births and the maternal age ranging from 20 to 40 years old were included in our study. Birth weight, gestational age, neonatal birth date, maternal birth date, residence and ethnicity were collected. Generalized additive model and two-piece wise linear regression model were used to analyze the specific relationships between maternal age and birth weight, risk of low birth weight, and risk of macrosomia. Results The relationships between maternal age and birth weight, risk of low birth weight, and risk of macrosomia were nonlinear. Birth weight increased 16.204 g per year when maternal age was less than 24 years old (95%CI: 14.323, 18.086), and increased 12.051 g per year when maternal age ranged from 24 to 34 years old (95%CI: 11.609, 12.493), then decreased 0.824 g per year (95% CI: -3.112, 1.464). The risk of low birth weight decreased with the increase of maternal age until 36 years old (OR = 0.917, 95%CI: 0.903, 0.932 when maternal age was younger than 27 years old; OR = 0.965, 95%CI: 0.955, 0.976 when maternal age ranged from 27 to 36 years old), then increased when maternal age was older than 36 years old (OR = 1.133, 95%CI: 1.026, 1.250). The risk of macrosomia increased with the increase of maternal age (OR = 1.102, 95%CI: 1.075, 1.129 when maternal age was younger than 24 years old; OR = 1.065, 95%CI: 1.060, 1.071 when maternal age ranged from 24 to 33 years old; OR = 1.029, 95%CI: 1.012, 1.046 when maternal age was older than 33 years old). Conclusions For women of childbearing age (20–40 years old), the threshold of maternal age on low birth weight was 36 years old, and the risk of macrosomia increased with the increase of maternal age.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression is one of the most important pathological characteristics of gastric cancer. The positive rate of HER2 expression in patients with gastric cancer is approximately 20%. The phase III Keynote-811 study revealed that anti-HER2 and anti-PD-1 therapy combined with chemotherapy could significantly improve the objective response rate as first-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with trastuzumab and PD-1 inhibitors in patients with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer in a real-world setting. Seventy-two HER2-positive gastric cancer patients from three hospitals in China were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were treated with trastuzumab plus one anti-PD-1 agent with or without chemotherapy. The overall response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival were assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST 1.1). From January 2018 to October 2021, 72 patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer received trastuzumab and a PD-1 inhibitor with or without chemotherapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, first-line therapy, second-line therapy or salvage therapy. The ORR was 54.2% for all patients and 79.4% for previously untreated patients. The median PFS and median OS were 10 months (95% CI: 8–13 months) and 26.1 months (95% CI: 18.5-NA months), respectively, for all patients. Grade 3 adverse effects occurred in approximately 25% of patients. Immune-related adverse effects occurred in approximately 12.5% of patients. Trastuzumab and PD-1 inhibitor combination therapy with or without chemotherapy achieved satisfactory survival outcomes in patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer with acceptable safety.