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by Ruslans Babajans, Darja Cirjulina, Sergejs Tjukovs, Sara Becchi, Jacopo Secco, Dmytro Vovchuk, Deniss Kolosovs and Dmitrijs Pikulins

Electronics 2026, 15(4), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15040748 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and services creates not only significant benefits but also new security threats. Classical information encryption techniques are not suitable for resource-constrained edge modules, thereby generating the demand for lightweight and efficient data protection algorithms. This work presents a novel dynamical parameter estimation scheme for chaotic oscillators, applied to physical-layer authentication (PLA). The proposed approach relies on the receiver’s capability to estimate a selected parameter of the transmitter’s oscillator determined by circuit configuration from the received chaotic signal using a locally synchronized oscillator, thereby enabling secure authentication based on a hardware-encoded identifier. The scheme is intended to complement a chaos-based wireless sensor network (WSN) architecture, where sensor nodes (SNs) implement analog chaotic oscillators, and the gateway operates discrete-time models. The Vilnius chaotic oscillator was chosen to validate the proposed PLA scheme. A rigorous bifurcation analysis of analytical, SPICE and discrete oscillator models was first conducted to identify parameter regions that preserve chaotic dynamics, establishing correspondence between models to guarantee the feasibility of parameter estimation across implementations. The digital realization of the parameter estimator demonstrated accurate and stable operation, with a small and nearly constant estimation relative error not exceeding 1.01%. Key performance metrics were analyzed, including estimation time, precision, and noise robustness. A tradeoff between estimation speed and accuracy was identified, particularly under noisy channel conditions. Finally, the influence of the receiver’s native oscillator parameter on distinguishable transmitter parameter ranges was demonstrated, highlighting the configurability and security potential of the proposed system against unauthorized transmissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonlinear Analysis and Control of Electronic Systems)

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32 pages, 5770 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Leadership, Information Entropy, and Stock Price Volatility: Evidence from CEO Social Media Behavior

by Yutong Zou, Jingqian Tian, Yunfan Zhang, Guangping Shi and Xiao Cai

Entropy 2026, 28(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/e28020200 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

In the digital economy, social media has become a critical channel through which corporate executives communicate with investors, thereby influencing market expectations and price dynamics. This study examines how CEO social media behavior affects stock price volatility from an information-theoretic perspective combined with deep learning methods. Using Lei Jun (Xiaomi) and Elon Musk (Tesla) as contrasting cases, we analyze executive communication under transactional and transformational leadership styles. Emotional tone, thematic alignment, and diffusion intensity are extracted using BERT and LDA, and incorporated into a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model to forecast short-term stock price movements. To interpret the mechanism behind the predictive results, we introduce a novel metric: Semantic Resonance Dissipation Entropy (SRE). Derived from Kullback–Leibler divergence, this indicator measures the informational friction between executive semantic output and market attention. The empirical analysis shows that incorporating these high-dimensional semantic features significantly improves volatility prediction. Moreover, leadership style is closely associated with distinct entropic regimes: Transactional leadership corresponds to relatively stable semantic patterns and low entropy, whereas transformational leadership is associated with higher entropy and greater semantic dispersion. Following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the previously unstable information environment evolved into a persistent structural factor priced by the market. These findings suggest that the economic impact of digital leadership depends on limiting information dissipation to ensure signal clarity in financial markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entropy, Artificial Intelligence and the Financial Markets)

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25 pages, 8157 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Bone Conduction Sensor Signals via Self-Supervised Acoustic Priors and Key-Value Memory

by Changyan Zheng, Hao He, Xiaohu Fan, Lin Li, Yang Zhao, Ye Yan and Erwei Yin

Sensors 2026, 26(4), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26041137 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Bone conduction (BC) sensors naturally resist ambient noise, but the captured speech suffers from severe high-frequency attenuation due to the low-pass filtering characteristics of body tissue. To compensate for this hardware-induced information deficiency, we propose a time-domain framework leveraging highly generalized representations from Self-Supervised Learning (SSL). Specifically, we employ a large-scale pre-trained SSL model to generate embeddings that function as robust acoustic priors. Subsequently, a Key-Value Memory module is integrated to bridge the sensor domain gap, enabling the retrieval of high-fidelity priors from BC queries in the absence of reference air conduction signals. These retrieved cues are then processed by a Gated Attention Projection and dynamically fused into the primary network’s bottleneck, effectively recovering the high-frequency harmonics attenuated by the physical transmission path and rectifying the spectral distortion inherent in BC signals. Experiments on the ABCS and ESMB datasets demonstrate that our method surpasses state-of-the-art baselines in both quality and efficiency. It achieves PESQ gains of over 51% and 73% relative to raw BC inputs, respectively, with a compact architecture optimized for real-world deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Signal and Image Processing Techniques for Sensor Applications)

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11 pages, 464 KB

Open AccessArticle

Anthropometric Characteristics Associated with 2000 m Rowing Ergometer Performance in Adolescent Athletes

by László Suszter, Ferenc Ihász, Zoltán Alföldi and István Barthalos

Physiologia 2026, 6(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/physiologia6010015 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Background: Anthropometric characteristics are known determinants of rowing performance, particularly during adolescence, when rapid physical growth affects strength, leverage, and movement efficiency. Understanding how body size and proportionality relate to rowing output is essential for contextualizing performance differences during youth rowing development. Objective: This study examined the associations between anthropometric variables and 2000 m ergometer performance in a multinational cohort of adolescent rowers, with separate analyses for males and females. Methods: A total of 126 youth rowers (65 males, 61 females) aged 14–16 years from eight countries participated. Standardized anthropometric measurements including body height, body mass, body fat (F%), relative muscle mass (M%), limb lengths, and body surface area (BSA) were assessed. Performance was assessed via maximal 2000 m ergometer testing, recording mean power output (W). Results: Significant anthropometric differences were observed between sexes. Performance outcomes mirrored these patterns: males produced substantially greater ergometer power (327.10 ± 48.65 W) compared to females (219.63 ± 30.96 W, p = 0.015). Across nations, anthropometric and performance means differed numerically but showed no statistically significant between-country differences (p > 0.05), despite small-to-moderate effect sizes. Correlation analyses revealed strong positive associations between ergometer power and body height (males: r = 0.70; females: r = 0.71), body mass (males: r = 0.75; females: r = 0.70), relative muscle mass (males: r = 0.62; females: r = 0.64) and body surface area (males: r = 0.78; females: r = 0.73). Relative fat mass showed a moderate-to-strong negative association with performance (males: r = −0.67; females: r = −0.64; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Anthropometric variables—particularly height, body mass, muscle mass, and body surface area—are strongly associated with rowing ergometer performance in adolescent athletes. These findings underscore the relevance of morphological profiling in youth rowing and provide descriptive insight into anthropometric–performance relationships during early junior rowing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Exercise Physiology)

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22 pages, 861 KB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Ionizing Radiation-Induced Senescence of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

by Xiaoliang Li, Maoshan Chen, Yangyang Zhang, Jiuxuan Li, Lixin Xiang, Yanni Xiao, Yang Xiang, Li Chen, Qian Ran and Zhongjun Li

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020196 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) are important components of bone marrow, possessing multipotent differentiation potential and the ability to support hematopoiesis. Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) induces cellular damage in BM-MSCs, such as DNA lesions and mitochondrial dysfunction. Despite their relative radioresistance, most surviving BM-MSCs enter senescence post-irradiation. This senescent state disrupts the bone marrow niche, impairs stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and contributes to acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and myelosuppression. To clarify the impact of IR on BM-MSCs, this review systematically summarizes the general mechanisms of radiation-induced cellular senescence, examines the effects of different radiation types (e.g., gamma rays, X-rays, and heavy-ion radiation) and doses on BM-MSCs senescence, and outlines senotherapeutic strategies targeting BM-MSCs senescence. The analysis indicates that the senescence of BM-MSCs caused by IR is type- and dose-dependent. The review identifies key factors in IR-induced BM-MSCs senescence to guide targeted interventions, highlighting the need for future studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of IR-induced BM-MSCs senescence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radiation-Induced Cellular and Molecular Responses)

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16 pages, 6856 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Seasonal Patterns of Apparent Heat Stress in Oman Using ERA5 Climatic Data

by Mohamed E. Hereher

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041800 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Apparent heat stress is usually expressed as Heat Index (HI), which reflects the combined impact of both temperatures and relative humidity upon human thermal tolerance. In the present study, the objectives were mainly to map the seasonal variations in HI across Oman and to investigate the environmental factors affecting their distribution. Seasonal HI calculations were applied using empirical equations, employing skin temperatures and relative humidity reanalysis data for Oman. These climatic datasets were acquired from the fifth-generation atmospheric reanalysis of global climate and weather (ERA5) produced by the European Copernicus Climate Change Services. Seasonal HI maps were produced using spatial interpolation techniques. Results showed that significant parts of the country fall into the high HI category, particularly in summer, where outdoor work is particularly vulnerable due to prevailing severe thermal stress. During fall and spring, considerable regions exert high HI values, while winter exhibits the lowest HI values throughout the country. Particularly, solar radiation was found to positively correlate with the HI for all of seasons, which eventually amplifies thermal stress, while the wind speed and topography exhibit negative and reducing influences upon HI. Climate change could exacerbate the severity of heat stress, particularly during spring, when the frequency of abnormal heatwaves is maximum. Maps of the seasonal pattern of heat stress could be beneficial in urban planning and sustainable development in this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)

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27 pages, 1567 KB

Open AccessReview

Enzyme Catalytic Parameters and Evolution Across the Dissipation Plane

by Davor Juretić and Branka Bruvo Mađarić

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041709 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Enzyme performance parameters, including the turnover number and specificity constant, exhibit remarkable diversity due to biological evolution and natural selection. In some bacterial and human enzymes, catalytic efficiencies approach fundamental physical limits, underscoring the importance of physical constraints on enzymatic function. A deeper understanding of these constraints, particularly in far-from-equilibrium irreversible processes, is therefore essential for rational enzyme engineering. Such constraints are most naturally addressed within the frameworks of nanothermodynamics and stochastic thermodynamics, which remain relatively unfamiliar to much of the molecular biology community. Recent theoretical and experimental advances indicate that classical enzyme kinetic parameters are not independent, but are systematically linked to energetic dissipation. In particular, enzymes appear to occupy a characteristic dissipation plane defined by entropy production, reflecting the coupled influence of thermodynamic principles and evolutionary selection. In this review, we synthesize evidence across diverse enzyme families demonstrating correlated increases in housekeeping dissipation, evolutionary divergence, and enzymatic performance. Together, these findings support dissipation as a physically grounded parameter that connects enzyme kinetics, biological evolution, and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Latest Review Papers in Molecular Biophysics)

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13 pages, 3052 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Declining Rainfall in Southern Coastal Australia Signals a Return to Drought, Low Dam Levels, Declining Stream Flows, and Catastrophic Bushfires

by Milton Speer and Lance Leslie

Climate 2026, 14(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli14020052 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Since early 2023, severe to exceptional drought has developed in southern coastal Australia, with dam levels falling as stream flows plummet. The wet season, April to September, reflects the most equatorward position of the mid-latitude westerly wind regime that brings rain-bearing systems to southern coastal Australia. Climatologically, an upper-level tropospheric split-jet is present in the Australia–New Zealand region. This is evident in the subtropical jet (STJ) location when the 1965 to 1995 u-component of the 250 hPa wind anomaly, relative to 1991 to 2020, is located above northern tropical Australia, and the weaker polar-front jet (PFJ) branch anomaly spans the mid-latitudes south of Australia. Permutation testing revealed a statistically significant decrease in the 2016 to 2025 wet season mean precipitation across southern Australia. Compared with the 1965 to 1995 u-component wind anomaly at 250 hPa, the 2006 to 2015 decadal anomaly still shows the split jet with the STJ branch over northern tropical Australia and the PFJ in the mid-latitudes of the Australia–New Zealand region. However, there is a dramatic change in position and structure of the STJ branch of the split jet, between the 1965 to 2015 and the 2026 to 2025 anomalies. The split jet structure has shifted approximately 10° poleward, causing rain-producing systems to track south of the Australian continent. The reduced precipitation can generate more frequent and intense droughts, with greatly reduced stream flows and dam levels. Historically, the low precipitation warm season follows from October to March when heatwaves, combined with pre-existing dry conditions, often create catastrophic bushfire conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change and Human Impact on Freshwater Water Resources: Rivers and Lakes, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 468 KB

Open AccessArticle

AI Communication Tone and Consumer Judgment: The Role of Servant Perception in Behavioral Intentions

by John Yang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020253 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in service interactions, requiring users to form rapid social judgments about AI communicators based on limited linguistic and contextual cues. This research examines how AI communication tone shapes behavioral intentions through social cognitive processes of role construal and agency attribution. Drawing on politeness theory, formality research, and social cognition perspectives, two scenario-based experiments test whether formal versus casual tone influences responses via attitudes toward the tone and the AI, and how these effects depend on perceptions of AI as a servant-like social actor. Study 1 shows that tone effects are moderated by servant perception and that economic framing, specifically paid versus free access, functions as an antecedent of hierarchical role construal. Study 2 replicates these effects and demonstrates that interaction structure, one-way versus two-way communication, similarly shapes servant perception by signaling differential autonomy. Across both studies, formal tone is more effective when AI is construed as subordinate, whereas casual tone is less effective under hierarchical role frames. By identifying servant perception as a central social cognitive mechanism, this research advances understanding of human judgment and decision making in technology-mediated interactions and offers implications for AI communication design aligned with role expectations. Because both studies rely on U.S. consumers, the findings should be interpreted within cultural contexts characterized by relatively low power distance, where role expectations and hierarchy norms may differ from other cultural settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Cognitive Factors Involved in Human Judgment and Decision Making)

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13 pages, 731 KB

Open AccessArticle

Demographic Disparities in AI-Generated Versus Search-Engine-Sourced Images of Ophthalmologists: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

by Siddharth Gandhi, Katherine Jung, Michael Balas and Parnian Arjmand

Vision 2026, 10(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/vision10010010 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate demographic representation in AI-generated and search-engine-sourced images of North American ophthalmologists, overall and stratified by subspecialty, and compare these with actual demographic data. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis examined 2000 images (1000 AI-generated and 1000 search-engine-sourced) across ten North American ophthalmology subspecialties. Images were sourced from four AI platforms (DALL·E 3, Firefly, Midjourney, Grok-2) and four search engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo!). Using a standardized framework, reviewers assessed gender, race, age group, and professional attire. Pearson chi-squared tests were used to compare image sets with actual demographic data from the Association of American Medical Colleges and Canadian Institute for Health Information. Results: AI-generated images depicted 69% men compared to 64% in search-engine-sourced images (p = 0.047), though both were lower than the actual proportion of male ophthalmologists in North America (71–73%, p < 0.001). White individuals were overrepresented in AI-generated images (81%) relative to both search-engine-sourced images (74%, p = 0.001) and actual demographic data (69%, p < 0.001). Younger individuals (under 50 years) were significantly overrepresented in both image sets, with 82% in AI-generated images and 73% in search-engine-sourced images, compared to only 45–46% in actual demographic data (p < 0.001 for both). AI-generated images also depicted ophthalmologists with significantly more stereotypical medical accessories, including stethoscopes (17% vs. 2%, p < 0.001), glasses (45% vs. 30%, p < 0.001), and white coats (68% vs. 53%, p < 0.001), compared to search-engine-sourced images. Conclusions: AI-generated images diverge from actual demographics, presenting a younger, more stereotypical workforce that paradoxically aligns closer to gender parity than reality. Full article

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15 pages, 1246 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation and Analysis of the Scaling Law for Slant-Path Propagation of Laser Beams in Atmospheric Turbulence

by Xin Ye, Chengyu Fan, Wenyue Zhu, Pengfei Zhang, Jinghui Zhang and Xianmei Qian

Photonics 2026, 13(2), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020170 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Slant-path propagation of laser beams through atmospheric turbulence produces beam spreading and jitter that must be rapidly predicted for system design and performance assessment. Existing scaling laws are mainly derived for horizontal paths and single-parameter variations, which limits their accuracy and applicability to realistic engagement geometries. Here, we construct a comprehensive wave-optics database for 1.064 μm truncated Gaussian beams with a 1 m aperture by traversing initial beam quality factor β₀, propagation distance L, elevation angle θ, turbulence strength Cₙ², and tracking jitter. From 46,800 turbulence-only cases, we extract the 63.2% encircled-power expansion factor and quantify the coupled influence of β₀, L, and θ on the turbulence term coefficient A in the scaling expression. A compact 3–10–1 feedforward neural network is trained to map (β₀, L, θ) to A, achieving a coefficient of determination R² = 0.948. Additional simulations without turbulence show that the jitter term coefficient B is nearly invariant over the considered parameter range, with an average value B = 3.69. Combining these results yields a unified scaling law for linear beam spreading on horizontal and slant paths. Comparison with full-wave-optics simulations demonstrates that the proposed law reproduces horizontal-path results and significantly reduces prediction errors at θ = 60° relative to existing models, providing an efficient tool for beam-quality prediction and performance evaluation in atmospheric laser propagation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser as a Detection: From Spectral Imaging to LiDAR for Remote Sensing Applications (2nd Edition))

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19 pages, 731 KB

Open AccessArticle

Diversification and Competitiveness Patterns in International Shrimp and Prawn Trade: Evidence from Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia

by Jose Carlos Montes Ninaquispe, Luisa Angelica Orejuela Guerrero, Francisco Elias Rodriguez Novoa, Pedro Ramiro Mendoza Ocaña, Anggie Melissa Sánchez Yarleque, Carlos Enrique Mendoza Ocaña, Fanny Lileth Pairazaman Lam, Luis Ignacio Gutiérrez Albán, Marcos Marcelo Flores Castillo and Yerson Paul Semillan Rosales

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041793 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

This study aimed to jointly characterize destination diversification and revealed competitiveness in the international shrimp and prawn trade of Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia during 2020–2024. A quantitative, descriptive–comparative approach was applied using annual free-on-board values at the exporter–destination level obtained from Trade Map (International Trade Centre). Destination diversification was proxied by the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index, while market-level competitiveness was measured through the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage index. Results show that Ecuador expanded exports while maintaining persistently high destination concentration. India exhibited broad revealed comparative advantage across multiple markets, yet remained highly concentrated, with episodes of deconcentration that were not sustained. Vietnam recorded relative stagnation, moderate concentration, and heterogeneous competitiveness across destinations. Indonesia experienced contraction with extremely high concentration, characterized by a pronounced advantage in the United States alongside disadvantages in alternative markets. Overall, a positive NRCA did not necessarily coincide with a low HHI, and configurations in which revealed advantage is concentrated in a small set of anchor markets are associated with higher exposure and may entail more limited reorientation options under shocks. Full article

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30 pages, 4961 KB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Change in Volatile Organic Compounds in Taiwan (2006–2024)—An Analytical Review

by Ming-Tsuen Hsieh, Peter Brimblecombe and Yonghang Lai

Environments 2026, 13(2), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13020094 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

This review examines 14 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across nine Taiwanese Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station sites over nearly two decades from 2006 to 2024, categorised as aromatic compounds, alkanes, and alkenes. Aromatic compounds and alkenes declined significantly (47.2–82.2%), reflecting regulatory success, while alkanes showed variable trends, including a 2023 Tainan spike (ethane: 9.12 ppbC, propane: 9.10 ppbC). Urban sites (Wanhua and Tucheng) exhibited high VOC levels from traffic, industrial sites (Xiaogang, Qiaotou) showed petrochemical influences, and rural sites (Chaozhou, Puzi, Taixi) were more alkane-dominated. Winter peaks and rush-hour diurnal patterns were meteorologically driven, with isoprene peaking in summer due to biogenic emissions. Cluster analysis of raw and standardised data separated urban–industrial from rural sites and early (2006–2010) from later (2018–2024) years, revealing compositional shifts. Benzene posed cancer risks (range 2.2 × 10⁻⁶–7.8 × 10⁻⁶) across sites and periods; as an illustrative example, prior to 2010 the risk at industrial Xiaogang was 6.2 × 10⁻⁶, but since 2020 has halved to 3.2 × 10⁻⁶. Taken together, these long-term observations demonstrate how declining anthropogenic VOC emissions can coexist with compositional shifts and an increasing relative influence of biogenic compounds, while also highlighting the ongoing challenge of ozone. This shows the value of monitoring networks as tools for understanding evolving atmospheric chemical regimes, rather than solely for reporting trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution: 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 3063 KB

Open AccessArticle

by Jiaxin Zhang, Yushan Li, Miaoling Cai, Jun Xiao, Yinghui Liu, Bo Wu, Qianrige, Zheng Ma, Hai Xiang, Xin Feng and Siyu Chen

Foods 2026, 15(4), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15040636 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Chicken meat quality is primarily determined by genetics and nutrition, but recent evidence suggests that animal personality traits and the gut microbiota may also play crucial roles through their influence on muscle development and metabolism. However, the specific mechanisms linking behavior, gut microbiota, and meat flavor remain largely unexplored, particularly in native chicken breeds like the Qingyuan partridge chicken. This study investigated associations between personality traits, gut microbiome composition, metabolite profiles, and meat quality in 200 female Qingyuan partridge chickens. Chickens were monitored for daily step counts from 70 to 120 days of age and divided into three experimental groups: high-exercise (HE), moderate-exercise (ME), and low-exercise (LE). Behavioral tests (open-field, T-maze) revealed HE chickens exhibited enhanced exploration (p < 0.05), reduced latency to move (p < 0.05), and higher learning success rates (p < 0.05) compared to LE counterparts. Meat quality analysis showed HE chickens had brighter breast muscle (L* value, p < 0.05), firmer thigh muscle (shear force, p < 0.05), and reduced intramuscular fat (p < 0.01) relative to LE chickens. Gut microbiome profiling indicated HE chickens showed enrichment of beneficial taxa like Bifidobacterium (p < 0.01) and Intestinimonas (p < 0.05), alongside reduced levels of opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis (LC-MS) highlighted upregulated pathways including phenylalanine metabolism and tryptophan–serotonin signaling (VIP ≥ 1.0, p < 0.05). These findings confirm that exercise-related personality traits are associated with improved meat quality and flavor, with correlations linked to gut microbiota and metabolite remodeling, providing novel insights for optimizing poultry meat quality in commercial production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Impacting Meat Product Quality: From Farm to Table)

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16 pages, 3223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Intestinal Microbiota Analyses Offer Insights into the Analysis of Differential Residual Feed Intake in Jian Carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

by Gang Jiang, Yu Zhang, Ezra Martini Kamunga, Wenrong Feng, Yuanfeng Xu, Jianlin Li, Zhihua Zhang and Yongkai Tang

Animals 2026, 16(4), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040548 (registering DOI) - 10 Feb 2026

Abstract

Feed efficiency (FE) is a critical economic trait in aquatic species. This study aimed to assess the effects of residual feed intake (RFI) divergence on growth performance, as well as antioxidant, digestive, and immune capacities. Additionally, intestinal microbiome was also employed to reveal the mechanism affecting the RFI in Jian carp. After the 8-week culture period, 12 fish (25 ± 1.05 g) each from the highest and lowest RFI extremes were selected as the HRFI and LRFI groups, respectively, for detailed physiological and microbial analysis. In terms of growth performance, the RFI, FCR, and DFI were found to be significantly lower in the LRFI group (p < 0.001), whereas no differences were observed in the ADG, BWG, SGR, HIS, VSI, and CF (p > 0.05). For physiological performance, the activities of digestive enzymes (protease, lipase and amylase) and antioxidant enzymes (T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GPx) were significantly higher in the LRFI group than in the HRFI group (p < 0.001). In line with this, the integrity of the intestinal tissue in the LRFI group was also superior to that in the HRFI group. Furthermore, the expressions of immune-related genes (LEP, GHR, AGPR, NPY) followed the same pattern. However, the expression of the CCK gene was significantly higher in the HRFI group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the total lipid and fatty acids contents of muscle between the RFI groups (p > 0.05). Microbiota analysis indicated that the LRFI group harbored a higher relative abundance of several microbial taxa often associated with beneficial metabolic functions, including s Cetobacterium_sp_ZOR0034, unidentified_Chloroplast, Chloroplast, and Mangrovibacter. KEGG functional enrichment analysis indicated that the functions of these microbiota were primarily associated with metabolic processes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that improved feed efficiency in Jian carp is collaboratively driven by enhanced physiological status (digestion, antioxidant, immunity) and a beneficial shift in gut microbiota. This study provides an integrated perspective for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of RFI and offers potential microbiota-targeted strategies for feed efficiency improvement in aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Physiology)

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