Hair Color Research Articles

Not only blonde hair

Women are affected from the so-called Gender Science Stereotype (GSS) according to which they are always considered as less competent than men in scientific fields for the only reason of being women, hence being obstacled and discriminated while pursuing that career. The scope of this study is to test whether some well-known stereotypes, such as the ‚dumb blonde‘ (i.e., blonde women are considered dumb or naïve), could explicitly effect the GSS and how they interact with each other. To investigate this, we manipulated pictures of a woman (Exp. 1) and a man (Exp. 2), by modifying (i) hair colour; (ii) hair length; (iii) glasses and (iv) make-up (Exp.1 ) or beard (Exp. 2), obtaining in this way 36 pictures for each experiment (3x3x2x2). Each picture was presented twice, once associated with a scientific text and once with a novel. Here we are presenting preliminary data, where participants (n = 45) were asked to evaluate, on a 10-points Likert scale, the authorship’s likelihood. Results show a negative effect of blonde hair (‘’dumb blonde’’) for both genders and heavy make-up for women, as well as a positive effect of glasses for both genders and of beard for men. Interestingly, although no gender-science stereotype has been found for women (Exp. 1), this emerged in Exp. 2. The interaction between scientific genre and make-up for women show that this stereotype is present when enhanced by other factors, such as the “highly” feminising effect of make-up. These results are discussed considering both perceptual and social theories.

Comprehensive evaluation of cocaine and its hydroxy metabolites in seized cocaine and a large cohort of hair samples.

As cocaine (COC) is not only incorporated into hair via blood following ingestion but also by external contamination, hair samples are commonly tested for COC metabolites to prove ingestion. However, COC metabolites can also be present as degradation products in typical street COC samples. The present study investigates minor hydroxycocaine (OH-COC) metabolites p- and m-OH-COC together with p- and m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine (OH-BE) in seized COC (n = 200) and hair samples from routine case work (n = 2389). Analytical results of hair samples were interpreted using an established decision model for the differentiation between actual use and external contamination using metabolic ratios (metabolite to COC). They were further examined concerning background of request, hair color, body site of sample collection, sex, and metabolic ratios of the main metabolites [benzoylecgonine (BE), norcocaine (NC), and cocaethylene (CE)]. All seized COC samples were positive for p- and m-OH-COC with a maximum percentage of 0.025% and 0.052%, respectively; p- and m-OH-BE were detected in 55% and 56% of samples with a maximum percentage of 0.044% and 0.024%, respectively. Analytical results of 424 hair samples (17.7%) were interpreted as being predominantly from contamination; the majority of these samples were from traffic medicine cases (83.7%). Metabolic ratios of minor OH-COC metabolites were significantly higher in hair samples interpreted as originating from use than in samples interpreted as caused by contamination. Metabolic ratios for OH-COCs were significantly higher in forensic cases compared to abstinence controls and also in black hair compared to blond/gray hair. However, this was not the case for OH-BE metabolic ratios. No statistical difference was observed with regard to the donor's sex. OH-COC metabolic ratios increased significantly with increasing ratios of NC and CE to COC, respectively. The study demonstrates that OH-COC metabolites (including thresholds for their metabolic ratios) must be used for a reliable interpretation of positive COC results in hair samples.

Hepatocellular carcinoma antibodies preferably identify nitro-oxidative-DNA lesions induced by 4-Chloro-orthophenylenediamine and DEANO.

The widespread use of oxidative hair colouring cosmetics threatens public health. Phenylenediamine derivatives serve as the main pigment in permanent hair colours. They interact with biological macromolecules, altering their functional and structural physiology. The study aimed to investigate the effect of a typical synthetic hair dye pigment, 4-Chloro-orthophenylenediamine (4-Cl-OPD), under a nitrating environment of DEANO on the calf thymus DNA molecule. The results showed single-stranded regions, base/sugar-phosphate backbone alterations, molecular changes, and nitro-oxidative lesions. These modifications are referred to as neo-epitopes on the DNA molecule. IgGs from cancer patients with a history of permanent hair dye use were screened for the recognition of neo-epitopes on DNA molecules. Hepatocellular carcinoma IgG showed the highest binding with 56% inhibition in the competition ELISA. The immune complex formation was observed through electrophoretic mobility shift assay. In conclusion, synthetic hair dye users are likely to present with heightened immunological triggers under elevated nitric oxide levels. The study reports chronic hair dye exposure as one of the factors responsible for altering the intricacies of the DNA's microarchitectural structure and inducing neo-epitopes on the molecule. The physiological status of NO may define the susceptibility towards 4-Cl-OPD and humoral response in hair dye users. Persistent nitro-oxidative stress due to 4-Cl-OPD and NO may induce a heightened immune response against neoepitopes in the nitro-oxidatively modified DNA. Therefore, chronic hair dye exposure may be identified as a risk to human health. These findings may contribute to a better understanding and reinforcement of hair dye as one of the modifiable risk factors responsible for the pro-inflammatory carcinogenic environment.

Choice between DNA primer sets (A or B) of the ForenSeq kit: forensic evaluation in a Mexican admixed population sample.

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) overcomes many PCR-CE limitations to analyze STRs and allow simultaneous inclusion of SNPs in forensic cases. By MPS, the ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep kit analyzes 27 aSTRs, 7 X-STRs, 24Y-STRs, and 94 identity-informative SNPs (iiSNPs) with the DNA Primer Set-A (DPS-A). Optionally, the DNA Primer Set-B (DPS-B) adds to the analysis 56 ancestry-informative SNPs (aiSNPs) and 24 phenotype-informative SNPs (piSNPs), but diminishes from 96 to 32 the number of samples per sequencing run. We assessed the forensic informativity provided by the loci analyzed by these two DPS in admixed individuals from Mexico City (Center, Mexico). For STRs, we report length-based (LB) and sequence-based (SB) allele frequencies and forensic parameters of the 152 identity informative markers (DPS-A). For aSTRs, the combined PD of SB genotypes (PD ~ 100%) was ~ 2949 times larger than that from LB. Conversely, the observed phenotype distribution offered low PD levels (PD = 6.6% and 10.4%), whereas piSNPs predicted accurately only the modal brown eye and dark hair colors, respectively. Similarly, aiSNPs detected a large prevalence of admixed individuals (97.3%; PD = 5.4%). Although few individuals were inferred as Europeans and Native Americans (1.37% each), they were self-declared as admixed, which result confusing for HID purposes. In brief, SB genotypes increased significantly the informativity of STRs to solve complex cases (DPS-A), whereas aiSNPs and piSNPs added mostly irrelevant information (DPS-B). We provide useful cost-benefit criteria in one Latin American population to choose DPS-A (96 samples) instead of DPS-B (32 samples) of the Forenseq kit.

The causal effects of lifestyle, circulating, pigment, and metabolic factors on early age-related macular degeneration: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization study

PurposeEarly detection of lifestyle factors, skin and hair color, circulating parameters, and metabolic comorbidities is crucial for personalized prevention and treatment of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study aimed to assess the relationships between genetically predicted comprehensive risk factors and early AMD.Methods and resultsPublicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were utilized to identify genetic variants significantly associated with each trait. We applied a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of P < 0.0017. P values between 0.0017 and 0.05 were considered suggestive associations. Univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses revealed that elevated serum HDL-C, lower serum TG, and decreased three circulating fatty acids levels were robust indicators of an increased risk of early AMD (all P < 0.0017), with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.218 (1.140–1.303), 0.784 (0.734–0.837), 0.772 (0.698–0.855), 0.776 (0.706–0.852), and 0.877 (0.798–0.963), respectively. Additionally, the “never eat wheat products”, “age started wearing glasses”, and “skin color” were significantly associated with the risk of early AMD (both P < 0.0017), with ORs (95% CIs) of 23.853 (2.731–208.323), 1.605 (1.269–2.030) and 1.190 (1.076–1.317), respectively. Multivariable MR analysis confirmed that elevated serum HDL-C (OR = 1.187, 1.064–1.324) increased the risk of early AMD, while higher serum TG (OR = 0.838, 0.738–0.950) was associated with a significantly lower risk. Furthermore, validation results indicated that serum HDL-C 1.201 (1.101–1.310) and TG 0.795 (0.732–0.864) were significantly associated with the risk of early AMD. There were suggestive associations of smoothies, chronotype, and hair color (0.0017 < P < 0.05), but sun/UV protection, smoking, BMI, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, fresh fruit intake, fish oil/cod liver oil supplement, sleeplessness, serum C-reactive protein level, and iron level were not associated with the risk of early AMD.ConclusionsOur comprehensive MR analysis demonstrated that elevated circulating HDL-C levels increase the risk of early AMD, while TG and fatty acid levels are associated with a decreased risk. These findings provide robust evidence for improved diagnosis and personalized prevention and treatment of early AMD.

Adopted and donor-conceived children hold reduced genetic-essentialist beliefs relative to traditionally-conceived children.

For three decades, researchers have assessed children's genetic essentialism through an "Adoption Task," probing their beliefs about whether adopted babies grow up to resemble their birthparents or adoptive parents. The present study investigates these beliefs among children who were themselves adopted or donor-conceived (i.e., who share genetic material with neither or one parent, respectively; "ADC"), comparing them with children who were traditionally-conceived (i.e., who share genetic material with two parents; "TC"). Children (n = 95, 4-8 years old, 30ADC/65TC, 34M/59F/2NB, 55 White / 35 of color / five did not report) completed five trials of an Adoption Task concerning five personal characteristics (hair color, spoken language, personality, interests, and intelligence). Across trials, ADC children made fewer essentialist judgments than TC children (ηp² = .07); the odds of an essentialist response were threefold greater among TC than ADC participants. Exploratory analyses revealed that with age, children's essentialist judgments became increasingly differentiated across different characteristics (e.g., increasingly divergent views of the genetic basis of hair color vs. spoken language), and that this differentiation was more pronounced in the ADC than the TC sample. No differences were observed in the genetic-essentialist views of ADC and TC children's parents, suggesting that the mechanism underlying effects was children's own sense-making capacities. Whereas nature and nurture are confounded for TC children, these factors are decoupled for ADC children, supporting them in building their causal theories. Cognitive, developmental, and social implications are discussed, along with translational implications for ADC children and their families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of Hair Changes and Damage According to Hair Iron Heating Plate Material

This study investigates the effects of ceramic and polymer heating plates on the surface and structure of hair. To evaluate the degree of hair damage caused by the iron and polymer heating plate materials, hair moisture content and the degree of hair fading were measured using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and a colorimeter, respectively. Additionally, a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the change in the microstructure of the hair. As a result, hair treated using a polymer iron contained significantly higher moisture than hair treated using a ceramic iron. The colorimeter analysis showed that ceramic irons caused fading and damage to hair color, whereas polymer irons did not. Lastly, hair treated with a ceramic flat iron had extensive surface scratches and cuticle melting from the SEM analysis, unlike hair treated with a polymer iron, which preserves superior hair shape and cuticle integrity.

Analysis and quantification of selected heavy metals and paraphenylenediamine in commercially available herbal black hair dyes in Sri Lanka

Currently, the use of henna-based herbal black hair dyes is widespread in the community. However, it is important to note that these dyes cannot be classified as completely natural due to the addition of various ingredients to enhance their effectiveness. Most black hair dyes use paraphenylenediamine (PPD) to get a black hue, however, PPD is widely recognized as a contact sensitizer. The toxicity of heavy metals is also prevalent in the cosmetics sector. These metallic elements can permeate the skin and provide widespread exposure throughout the body. Hair dye requires an alkaline pH value because of reactions that occur during the dyeing process, which is incompatible with scalp pH. The varying concentrations of these chemicals and their frequency of usage can result in diverse health issues. The present research implemented High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry to quantify the concentrations of PPD and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Fe) in seven frequently used brands in Sri Lanka. The lead content in the examined samples exhibited variability, ranging from 0.04 ± 0.01 ppm to 0.28 ± 0.14 ppm. However, all the samples remained below the allowed level of 2 ppm according to the BVL standard. Regarding Cd, certain examined materials surpassed the acceptable thresholds, while others did not and varied between 0 ppm and 2.33 ± 1.92 ppm. Iron was found at a significantly higher concentration compared to the other two heavy metals. A significant quantity of PPD was detected, exceeding the allowable threshold of 6 % according to the European Union legislation. All the samples that were analyzed had a pH value within the alkaline range. The study indicates that herbal dyes generated from natural materials may contain harmful compounds, such as a high concentration of PPD in herbal black hair color potentially inducing sensitization.

Dermal Papilla Cells: From Basic Research to Translational Applications.

As an appendage of the skin, hair protects against ultraviolet radiation and mechanical damage and regulates body temperature. It also reflects an individual's health status and serves as an important method of expressing personality. Hair loss and graying are significant psychosocial burdens for many people. Hair is produced from hair follicles, which are exclusively controlled by the dermal papilla (DP) at their base. The dermal papilla cells (DPCs) comprise a cluster of specialized mesenchymal cells that induce the formation of hair follicles during early embryonic development through interaction with epithelial precursor cells. They continue to regulate the growth cycle, color, size, and type of hair after the hair follicle matures by secreting various factors. DPCs possess stem cell characteristics and can be cultured and expanded in vitro. DPCs express numerous stemness-related factors, enabling them to be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using only two, or even one, Yamanaka factor. DPCs are an important source of skin-derived precursors (SKPs). When combined with epithelial stem cells, they can reconstitute skin and hair follicles, participating in the regeneration of the dermis, including the DP and dermal sheath. When implanted between the epidermis and dermis, DPCs can induce the formation of new hair follicles on hairless skin. Subcutaneous injection of DPCs and their exosomes can promote hair growth. This review summarizes the in vivo functions of the DP; highlights the potential of DPCs in cell therapy, particularly for the treatment of hair loss; and discusses the challenges and recent advances in the field, from basic research to translational applications.

Exploring Eye, Hair, and Skin Pigmentation in a Spanish Population: Insights from Hirisplex-S Predictions.

Understanding and predicting human pigmentation traits is crucial for individual identification. Genome-wide association studies have revealed numerous pigmentation-associated SNPs, indicating genetic overlap among pigmentation traits and offering the potential to develop predictive models without the need for analyzing large numbers of SNPs. In this study, we assessed the performance of the HIrisPlex-S system, which predicts eye, hair, and skin color, on 412 individuals from the Spanish population. Model performance was calculated using metrics including accuracy, area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Our results showed high prediction accuracies (70% to 97%) for blue and brown eyes, brown hair, and intermediate skin. However, challenges arose with the remaining categories. The model had difficulty distinguishing between intermediate eye colors and similar shades of hair and exhibited a significant percentage of individuals with incorrectly predicted dark and pale skin, emphasizing the importance of careful interpretation of final predictions. Future studies considering quantitative pigmentation may achieve more accurate predictions by not relying on categories. Furthermore, our findings suggested that not all previously established SNPs showed a significant association with pigmentation in our population. For instance, the number of markers used for eye color prediction could be reduced to four while still maintaining reasonable predictive accuracy within our population. Overall, our results suggest that it may be possible to reduce the number of SNPs used in some cases without compromising accuracy. However, further validation in larger and more diverse populations is essential to draw firm conclusions and make broader generalizations.

A missense mutation in the tyrosinase gene explains acromelanism in domesticated canaries.

Acromelanism is a form of albinism observed in several vertebrate species. In mammals, acromelanism is known to be caused by mutations in the tyrosinase gene (TYR) that induce a temperature-sensitive behavior of melanin synthesis, resulting in a characteristic hair color gradient. In birds, several phenotypes consistent with acromelanism have been reported, but their genetic basis remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the genetic basis of an acromelanistic phenotype in domesticated canaries known as pearl and test whether it is caused by the same molecular mechanism described for mammals. To do this, we compared the genomes of pearl and non-pearl canaries and searched for potentially causative genetic mutations. Our results suggest that the pearl phenotype is caused by a mutation in the TYR gene encoding a TYR-P45H missense substitution. Our findings further suggest that reports of acromelanism in other bird species might be explained by TYR mutations.

7640 The first description of an MC4R variant in a patient with Kallmann syndrome and obesity

Abstract Disclosure: A.A. Aslam: None. S. Lim: None. R. Willemsen: None. K. Koysombat: None. M. Young: None. W.S. Dhillo: None. A. Abbara: None. S. Howard: None. E.F. Gevers: None. Introduction: Pathogenic MC4R gene variants result in hyperphagia and early onset obesity but puberty is not usually affected. We describe an MC4R variant in a patient with Kallmann syndrome and obesity. A 16 year old male with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, anosmia, autism and anxiety, was referred with obesity and delayed puberty. His birth weight was 3360 g (-0.26 SDS). Height was -1.31 SDS, BMI 30.7 kg/m2. He had high arched palate, normal skin and hair colour, mild hypertelorism and upward slanting palpebral fissures. Pubertal staging was A2P1G1 5ml testes bilaterally. Results: LHRH test showed borderline low peaks (LH 5.0 U/L, FSH 2.6 U/L) and inhibin B 108 pg/mL (25-325 pg/mL). MRI brain showed hypoplastic olfactory bulbs, absent olfactory sulci and normal pituitary anatomy. CGH microarray, karyotype and the UK hypogonadism gene panel were normal. He underwent whole genome sequencing in the Genetic Factors Affecting the Timing of Puberty Study; no abnormalities in 52 known genes associated with GnRH deficiency were found but a previously described heterozygous variant was detected, MC4R c.542G&amp;gt;A, p.Gly181Asp, classified pathogenic and absent in control databases. Management: He was commenced on Testosterone but showed progression of testicular size to 10 mL and testosterone was stopped but required restarting. Repeat investigations off treatment, aged 22 years (height 178 cm, BMI 42 kg/m2, testes 15 mL): inhibin B 66 pg/mL, testosterone 2 nmol/L, baseline LH 2.4 U/L, stimulated peak 24.9 U/L, baseline FSH 1.2 U/L, stimulated peak 4.2 U/L. Cortisol and IGF1 were in the normal range. He also developed autoimmune hypothyroidism with raised TPO antibodies (TSH 24.7 mU/L, FT4 5.6 pmol/L). Discussion: Previous in vitro work has shown complete loss of function of MC4R p.Gly181Asp due to reduced cell surface expression and reduced binding to a-MSH. Heterozygous p.Gly181Asp variants have been described in several children/adults with obesity; but hypogonadism in heterozygous carriers has not. Homozygous MC4R p.Gly181Asp was found in a male with obesity and partial HH thought to be due to abnormal GnRH production but with normal olfactory bulbs. We are the first to describe a heterozygous MC4R p.Gly181Asp variant in a patient with partial hypogonadism and anosmia with hypoplastic bulbs in addition to obesity. Interaction between POMC-MC-leptin circuits and Kisspeptin-GnRH circuits is recognised although not completely understood. Previous work has shown that a subset of kisspeptin neurons express MC4R and that KNDy neurones receive synaptic input from POMC neurons. In addition, inhibition of MC4R/MC3R results in delayed onset of puberty in rats. Our results support a role for MC4R in GnRH secretion and potentially olfactory /GnRH neuronal migration. Assessment of spontaneous gonadotrophin production and response of gonadotrophin production to kisspeptin stimulation is currently in progress. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Comparative analysis of hair microstructure in the cave lion (Panthera spelaea): A review

Original studies of the fur of adult males and heterosexual cubs of the cave and African lions and generalization of literature data showed that the hair colour of the cave lion was similar, but not identical to that of the African lion. The fur of Panthera spelaea is distinguished by the presence of a thicker and denser undercoat, consisting of numerous tightly closed and compressed wavy downy hairs with a medulla that is not usually characteristic of the undercoat of most mammalian species. The microstructure of the medulla, cortex, and cuticle patterns of the cave and African lions are similar, but the cuticle scales along the stem are higher in the cave lion. In lion cubs of both species, the differences are most pronounced, but in case of them, the fur is not as polymorphic as in adults. The differences between the fur of cave and African lions may be related to the adaptation of the first species to the conditions of the ice age, and the second to a hot climate. Comparison of the hair microstructure of the cave lion with other pantherines and felines revealed a similar specific structure of the medulla and cuticle patterns at the base of the guard hairs in many of the compared species, which confirms the systematic closeness of these taxa.

Nearly complete hair re-pigmentation in an older patient treated with hydroxyurea for essential thrombocytosis

Introduction Employed in the treatment of malignancies and non-neoplastic conditions, hydroxyurea is associated with integumentary adverse effects, including skin discoloration, xerosis, pruritus, cutaneous atrophy, chronic leg ulcers, oral ulcerations, alopecia, and some nail abnormalities. Case Report A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with essential thrombocytosis and started on low dose hydroxyurea. After 20 weeks of treatment, she experienced an unexpected change in hair color from gray to dark brown, without using hair dye or supplements. She later developed bilateral dorsal hand melanoderma, melanonychia, and onychodystrophy. Management and outcome It was decided to monitor the patient with no action taken as she was happy with this side effect of hydroxyurea. The platelet count has remained in excellent control. The dark brown hair color persisted over time. Discussion/Conclusion Hair hyperpigmentation likely occurred through melanocyte activation via hydroxyurea. Severe side effects may require dosage adjustments, while milder effects can be monitored closely. The newly observed hair color restoration in this case highlights potential dual (therapeutic and aesthetic) applications of this class of agents.

Constitutional Factors and Irradiation as Risk Factors for Thymoma: A European Case-Control Study.

Little is known about the aetiology of thymoma. This study aims to identify medical risk factors for thymoma as a systematic approach to new hypotheses on the aetiology of this disease. A European multi-centre case-control study was conducted from 1995 to 1997, including incident cases aged 35-69 years with thymoma. Altogether, we accepted 85 cases and 3350 controls, of which we interviewed 77 cases and 2071 population controls about constitutional factors, medical examinations, and former diseases. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Medical examinations with X-ray or radiotherapy performed >20 times at least one year before the thymoma diagnosis indicated a possible risk factor for thymoma (OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.93-2.69). Having the first radiotherapy treatment at least one year before the thymoma diagnosis yielded an OR for thymoma of 2.39; 95% CI (0.96-5.99), and if it was at least five years before, the OR for thymoma was 2.81; 95% CI (1.03-7.72). Having a red/auburn hair colour was associated with thymoma, (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-9.5) whereas having pigmented skin was slightly associated with thymoma (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.8-3.8). Over twenty instances of X-ray examinations or radiotherapy were identified as potential risk factors for thymoma, along with certain constitutional factors. The observed correlations between benign tumours and thymoma could stem from an inherent predisposition to tumour development or result from detection bias. Given that this is the initial analytical study examining medical risk factors for thymoma, all of the results should be approached with caution, acknowledging the possibility that some findings might be incidental.

Transcriptome-based screening and validation of key genes for wool color in cashmere goats.

Colored wool from cashmere goats is increasingly popular among consumers, but the transcriptomic differences between coat colors are poorly understood. This study aimed to screen for coat color regulation-associated genes in cashmere goats to ascertain their underlying molecular mechanisms. Transcriptomic sequencing of skin tissues from black (BC), brown (YC), and white cashmere (WC) goats was performed. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to validate SLC24A4 and DCT expression, two essential genes identified for coat color determination. We identified 6,518 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the BC vs. WC group (3,919 upregulated, 2,599 downregulated). Next, 5,593 DEGs were identified in the YC vs. WC group (3,629 upregulated, 1,964 downregulated). Finally, 4,538 DEGs were expressed in both groups, with 1,980 and 1,055 DEGs exclusively expressed in either group. Functions and pathways associated with hair color were enriched, including melanosomes, melanocyte migration, melanin biosynthesis processes and functions, and melanogenesis pathways. TYRP1, SLC24A4, PMEL, OCA2, and DCT were significantly upregulated in BC goat skin, while ASIP was significantly upregulated in YC skin. Additionally, KIT, POMC, SLC24A5, Wnt3a, and EDN3 were DEGs for different coat colors. Immunohistochemistry revealed SLC24A4 and DCT expression in dermal papillae, inner and outer root sheaths, and the hair follicle matrix. Western blotting showed that SLC24A4 protein levels were highest in BC goat skin. DCT protein levels were also highest in BC goat skin, albeit not significantly. These results further our understanding of coat color regulation in cashmere goats, establishing a foundation for their molecular breeding.

ETBHD‐HMF: A Hierarchical Multimodal Fusion Architecture for Enhanced Text‐Based Hair Design

AbstractText‐based hair design (TBHD) represents an innovative approach that utilizes text instructions for crafting hairstyle and colour, renowned for its flexibility and scalability. However, enhancing TBHD algorithms to improve generation quality and editing accuracy remains a current research difficulty. One important reason is that existing models fall short in alignment and fusion designs. Therefore, we propose a new layered multimodal fusion network called ETBHD‐HMF, which decouples the input image and hair text information into layered hair colour and hairstyle representations. Within this network, the channel enhancement separation (CES) module is proposed to enhance important signals and suppress noise for text representation obtained from CLIP, thus improving generation quality. Based on this, we develop the weighted mapping fusion (WMF) sub‐networks for hair colour and hairstyle. This sub‐network applies the mapper operations to input image and text representations, acquiring joint information. The WMF then selectively merges image representation and joint information from various style layers using weighted operations, ultimately achieving fine‐grained hairstyle designs. Additionally, to enhance editing accuracy and quality, we design a modality alignment loss to refine and optimize the information transmission and integration of the network. The experimental results of applying the network to the CelebA‐HQ dataset demonstrate that our proposed model exhibits superior overall performance in terms of generation quality, visual realism, and editing accuracy. ETBHD‐HMF (27.8 PSNR, 0.864 IDS) outperformed HairCLIP (26.9 PSNR, 0.828 IDS), with a 3% higher PSNR and a 4% higher IDS.

52930 Association Between Natural Hair Color, Race, and Alopecia

52930 Association Between Natural Hair Color, Race, and Alopecia

FORENSIC DNA PHENOTYPING FOR CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION

The purpose of the work – to carry out an analysis of modern achievements andpossibilities of forensic DNA phenotyping to determine the external characteristics ofa person, his biogeographical origin and age in order to facilitate criminal investigations.Conclusions. Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) involves the prediction of a person’sexternal characteristics regarding appearance, biogeographic origin, and age based onDNA samples from a crime scene to support investigations and help to find unknowncriminals who cannot be identified through forensic STR profiling.DNA-based appearance prediction has moved beyond eye, hair and skin color andincluded new features such as eyebrow color, freckles, hair structure, male pattern hairloss and height. DNA-based biogeographic inference of ancestry has progressed fromcontinental ancestry to detecting subcontinental ancestry and resolving models of commonancestry in genetically mixed individuals. DNA-based age estimation is now possible notonly through blood testing, but also through somatic tissues such as saliva and bone, aswell as new markers and tools for analyzing semen. Technological advances have madeit possible to use forensic DNA technology with greatly increased multiplexing capabilityto simultaneously analyze hundreds of DNA predictors using targeted massively parallelsequencing (MPS). Forensically validated MPS-based FDP tools for DNA-based crimescene prediction are used to identify: several features of appearance; multiregional origin;several appearance features together with multiregional origin; age by different tissue types. Despite recent advances that are likely to increase the impact of FDP in criminal casesin the near future, bringing reliable prediction of appearance, ancestry, and age fromcrime scene DNA to the level of detail and accuracy, that forensic scientists may desire,requires further intensive scientific research, along with technical developments andforensic validation.

CircRNA18_46222157_46248185 inhibits melanogenesis by targeting miR-211/EP300 pathway in goat melanocytes.

This study investigated the effects of circRNA18_46222157_46248185 (named circRNA18) on goat melanogenesis, which differs significantly in goat skins isolated from white and brown coat-colored skins. Expression patterns of circRNA18 in goat skin and melanocytes were determined by qRT-PCR and In situ hybridization. The circRNA18 interference vector was designed and synthesized to transfect melanocytes and detect the effect of circRNA18 interference on melanin production. Bioinformatics software was used to predict the targeted adsorption miRNAs of circRNA18, verified by luciferase assay. miRNA expression vector was constructed and transfected into melanocytes to detect the effect of miRNA on melanin production, and the targeted regulatory genes were detected by luciferase assay. Target gene interference vector was constructed to detect the influence of target gene interference on melanin production. qRT-PCR results unveiled distinct expression patterns of circRNA18 in diverse tissues of male and female goats, while in situ hybridization assays showed that circRNA18 is expressed in the cytoplasm of melanocytes. Functional analysis demonstrated that the downregulation of circRNA18 in melanocytes leads to a significant increase (P<0.01) in melanin production. Bioinformatics analysis identified a potential miR-211 binding site on circRNA18, and luciferase assay confirmed their interaction. Overexpression of miR-211 in melanocytes significantly augmented (P<0.01) melanin production. There were two potential miR-211 binding sites on adenoviral E1A-binding protein (EP300), and the overexpression of miR-211 in melanocytes significantly decreased (P<0.001) EP300 expression, with luciferase assay confirming their interaction. Downregulation of EP300 expression in melanocytes through siRNA-EP300 transfection results in a substantial increase (P<0.05) in melanin production. qRT-PCR results indicated that overexpression of mimics-circRNA18 in melanocytes markedly suppressed (P<0.0001) miR-211 expression, significantly elevated (P<0.01) EP300 expression, and significantly inhibited (P<0.001) melanin production. circRNA18_46222157_46248185 acted as a negative regulator of melanogenesis in goat melanocytes by targeting the miR-211/EP300 pathway, and guiding animal hair color breeding strategies.