Nutritive value of palm kernel meal in diets for growing rabbits

The aim of this work was to determine the nutritive value of palm kernel meal (PKM) in diets for growing rabbits. In Experiment 1, 20 New Zealand × Californian growing rabbits 50 d-old were used to determine energy, crude protein, fibre and fat digestibility of PKM. The nutritive value was estimated by the difference method using a basal diet and another diet made by substituting 200 g/kg of basal diet with PKM. Energy, crude protein, ether extract and neutral detergent fibre of PKM digestibilities were, respectively, 0.549 (±0.056, SE), 0.541 (±0.069), 0.850 (±0.048) and 0.430 (±0.101), and the digestible energy concentration was 10.9 MJ/kg (±1.03) DM. In Experiment 2, 412 rabbits were allocated at random to the two experimental diets to measure growing performance. Inclusion of 200 g PKM/kg in the diet did not affect feed or digestible energy intake but decreased slightly (by around 5%) average daily gain (P = 0.003) and feed efficiency (P < 0.001). Neither mortality nor Clostridium perfringens counts in soft faeces were affected by type of diet. Palm kernel meal can be considered a palatable source of fibre, protein and fat for rabbits and can substitute significant amounts of other fibrous ingredients in the diet without adverse effects on growth performance

Vacuum Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Quasicrystalline Composite Coatings

High-temperature-resistant self-lubricating coatings are needed in space vehicles for components that operate at high temperatures and/or under vacuum. Thick composite lubricant coatings containing quasicrystalline alloys as the hard phase for wear resistance can be deposited by a thermal spray technique. The coatings also contain lubricating materials (silver and BaF2CaF2 eutectic) and NiCr as the tough component. This paper describes the vacuum tribological properties of TH103, a coating of this type, with a very good microstructural quality. The coating was deposited by high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying and tested under vacuum using a pin-on-disc tribometer. Different loads, linear speeds, and pin materials were studied. The pin scars and disc wear tracks were characterised using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry. A minimum mean steady friction coefficient of 0.32 was obtained when employing an X750 Ni superalloy pin in vacuum conditions under 10 N load and 15 cm/s linear speed, showing moderate wear of the disc and low wear of the pi

Vacuum tribological behaviour of self lubricant quasicrystalline composite coatings

High temperature resistant self-lubricant coatings are needed in space vehicles for components that operate at high temperatures and/or under vacuum. Thick composite lubricant coatings containing quasicrystalline alloys (QC) as the hard phase for wear resistance, have been deposited by thermal spray. The coatings also comprise lubricating materials (silver and BaF2-CaF2 eutectic) and NiCr as the tough component. This paper describes the vacuum tribological properties of TH103, a coating belonging to this family, with excellent microstructural quality. The coating was deposited by HVOF and tested under vacuum on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Different loads, linear speeds and pin materials were studied. The pin scars and disc wear tracks were characterized by EDS-SEM. A minimum mean steady friction coefficient of 0.32 was obtained employing a X-750 Ni superalloy pin in vacuum conditions under 10 N load and 15 cm/s linear speed, showing moderate wear of the disc and low wear of the pin

Efecto de la variación en la cantidad de nitrógeno ligado a la fibra en piensos de cerdos sobre las características del purín resultantante y su potencial de NH3, Biogas y CH4: resusltados preliminares

La composición del purín varía en función de la dieta, los procesos fisiológicos y bioquímicos en el animal y el manejo, entre otros. La composición del purín es determinante en las emisiones de metano (CH 4 ) y amoniaco (NH 3 ) (Moset y col., 2012) y condiciona su aptitud para ser usado como fertilizante o como sustrato para la producción de biogás. Las materias primas comúnmente utilizadas en la fabricación de piensos poseen valores variables de nitrógeno ligado a fibra (N- FND) y determinadas combinaciones de ingredientes modifican de manera considerable la concentración de N-FND en los piensos. La ingesta de diferentes cantidades de N-FND puede dar lugar a cambios en la composición del purín y en su potencial de producción de NH 3 ,CH 4 y biogás. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la modificación de la calidad del nitrógeno (N) en piensos de cebo en cerdos y sus implicancias en la producción de NH 3, CH 4 y biogás a partir del purín. Este ensayo es parte del proyecto GasPorc (AGL2011-30023-C03) que evalúa la relación que existe entre la composición de la dieta, características del purín y su potencial de producción de gases y valor fertilizante

Modulating Myeloid Immune Cell Migration Using Multivalently Presented Monosaccharide Ligands for Advanced Immunotherapy

Due to their importance for the outcome of the inflammatory response, the motile myeloid cells are a focus of novel treatment options. The interplay of selectins and their ligands with leukocytes and endothelial cells, which mediate endothelial attachment and transmigration of immune cells, can be modulated by selectin‐binding structures. Here, a library of selectin‐targeting ligands coupled to either gold, silver, iron oxide nanospheres, or quantum dots of 5–10 nm in size is used to systematically study their impact on immune cell motility. The multivalent presentation of the carbohydrate mimetics results in very low sub‐nanomolar binding to L ‐selectin. Using human primary monocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages, it is shown that the ligands exhibit only minor effects on uptake, whereas the motility of leukocytes is critically affected as observed in migration assays evaluated by flow cytometry. The carbohydrate mimetic ring structure, sulfation, in particular, and the degree of ligand presentation, are constituents which cohere in this process. Specific carbohydrate ligands can thus selectively regulate leukocyte subsets. These data form the basis for advanced immunotherapy which inhibits the amplification of inflammation by restricting leukocyte influx to injured tissue sites. Furthermore, the targeting ligands may complement existing treatment options for inflammatory diseases

Modificación del nivel y tipo de fibra en piensos de cerdos mediante la inclusión de subproductos agroindustriales sobre las características del purín y su potencial de producción de amoniaco, biogás y metano (resultados preliminares)

La alimentación de los animales se considera una vía importante de mitigación de la emisión de gases contaminantes a la atmósfera, principalmente amoniaco (NH3) y metano (CH4), (BREF, 2006). La incorporación de fuentes de fibra fácilmente fermentable poco lignificada en piensos es capaz de modificar el comportamiento fermentativo de las bacterias en el intestino grueso y el balance entre el nitrógeno (N) orgánico e inorgánico y el pH de las deyecciones (Portejoie y col., 2004; Jarret y col., 2011). Este efecto, que no altera la excreción total de N puede condicionar considerablemente a la emisión de NH3. Por otro lado, el efecto de la inclusión de fuentes de fibra en la dieta sobre las emisiones de CH4 ha sido menos estudiado. Algunos estudios sugieren que un incremento de la cantidad de fibra en los piensos puede aumentar la producción de CH4 por cerdo y día (Jarret y col., 2011) al reducir la digestibilidad de los nutrientes e incrementar la cantidad de materia orgánica no digerida en las heces. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar los efectos de las variaciones en el nivel y tipo de fibra (fermentable y no fermentable) de los piensos sobre las características del purín y las emisiones de NH3,CH4 y Biogás

New concepts and objectives for protein-amino acid nutrition in rabbits: a review

In the European context, the new legislation to avoid mineral contamination and the ban on antibiotics as growth promoters has led to the definition of new objectives in respect of nitrogen supply. The present study summarizes the state of nitrogen nutrition in rabbits and reviews the role of protein and amino acids in rabbit health and the new nitrogen value of protein sources based on true ileal digestibility (TID) for future recommendations. The main sources of nitrogen for microbial growth are ammonia, urea and protein (endogenous and dietary). The surplus of nitrogen flow to the caecum increases mortality rates during fattening by favouring the growth of potential pathogenic bacteria. Accordingly, feeding strategies to reduce ileal nitrogen flow have been reviewed. A large reduction of dietary protein level might have negative consequences on growth performances and mortality. In order to formulate balanced low protein diets, data on ileal and faecal amino acid digestibility of 14 raw materials is summarized. The use of this different unit for amino acid digestibility is also discussed

The effect of slurry composition on methane potential emissions from fattening pig slurries: a review of three nutrition assays

This study reviews the effects of pig slurry composition on the biochemical methane (CH4) potential (B0), using the information collected in three nutrition assays. A total of 84 animals were used to test the effect of 13 different diets

Cell walls of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis exhibit bilaminate structures and sloughing of extensive and intact layers

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), grants E-26/202.974/2015 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grants 229755/2013-5, Brazil. LMLB is a senior research fellow of CNPq and Faperj. NG acknowledged support from the Wellcome Trust (Trust (097377, 101873, 200208) and MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Primary skin fibroblasts as a model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. While most cases occur sporadic mutations in a growing number of genes including Parkin (PARK2) and PINK1 (PARK6) have been associated with the disease. Different animal models and cell models like patient skin fibroblasts and recombinant cell lines can be used as model systems for Parkinson's disease. Skin fibroblasts present a system with defined mutations and the cumulative cellular damage of the patients. PINK1 and Parkin genes show relevant expression levels in human fibroblasts and since both genes participate in stress response pathways, we believe fibroblasts advantageous in order to assess, e.g. the effect of stressors. Furthermore, since a bioenergetic deficit underlies early stage Parkinson's disease, while atrophy underlies later stages, the use of primary cells seems preferable over the use of tumor cell lines. The new option to use fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells redifferentiated into dopaminergic neurons is an additional benefit. However, the use of fibroblast has also some drawbacks. We have investigated PARK6 fibroblasts and they mirror closely the respiratory alterations, the expression profiles, the mitochondrial dynamics pathology and the vulnerability to proteasomal stress that has been documented in other model systems. Fibroblasts from patients with PARK2, PARK6, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 demonstrated a distinct and unique mRNA expression pattern of key genes in neurodegeneration. Thus, primary skin fibroblasts are a useful Parkinson's disease model, able to serve as a complement to animal mutants, transformed cell lines and patient tissues