Effect of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) administration on apparent digestibility of horses

Six mares were divided into two groups of three subjects each in a crossover design on the basis of body weight and age: Control(C)fedabasaldiet,Treatment(T)fedabasaldietand2 Control (C) fed a basal diet, Treatment (T) fed a basal diet and 2 2 g/head/d of live yeast ((S. cerevisiae 4.6x1010 CFU/day).Theexperimentaldesignwasdividedintotwo ).Theexperimentaldesignwasdividedintotwo . The experimental design was divided into two periods named period 1 and period 2 respectively of 35d each, and consisting of 3 different phases. Dur- ing each period all animals were subject to an adaptation phase of 14d (phase1); during phase 2 (18d) and phase 3 live yeast was administered (T) or not (C). Phase 3 consisted in a three days individual fecal collection period all the groups, in order to determine dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, NDF and ADF apparent digestion rates using acid insoluble ash (AIA) as internal marker (Bergero et al., 2005). Results obtained evidenced as the administration of S. cerevisiae to mature horses resulted in increased digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, NDF, and ADF

Numerical and Experimental Dynamic Analysis of IC Engine Test Beds Equipped with Highly Flexible Couplings

Driveline components connected to internal combustion engines can be critically loaded by dynamic forces due to motion irregularity. In particular, flexible couplings used in engine test rig are usually subjected to high levels of torsional oscillations and time-varying torque. This could lead to premature failure of the test rig. In this work an effective methodology for the estimation of the dynamic behavior of highly flexible couplings in real operational conditions is presented in order to prevent unwanted halts. The methodology addresses a combination of numerical models and experimental measurements. In particular, two mathematical models of the engine test rig were developed: a torsional lumped-parameter model for the estimation of the torsional dynamic behavior in operative conditions and a finite element model for the estimation of the natural frequencies of the coupling. The experimental campaign addressed torsional vibration measurements in order to characterize the driveline dynamic behavior as well as validate the models. The measurements were achieved by a coder-based technique using optical sensors and zebra tapes. Eventually, the validated models were used to evaluate the effect of design modifications of the coupling elements in terms of natural frequencies (torsional and bending), torsional vibration amplitude, and power loss in the couplings

Can lipid supplementation modulate inflammatory state and immune response in periparturient goats? A case study on hepatic and adipose miRNA expression

Saturated or unsaturated fatty acids compounds were administered to second-parity twins-diagnosed alpine dairy goats. Experimental groups were fed either calcium stearate (ST, n.7), fish oil (FO, n.8) or a control diet without any fat supplement (C, n.8) from one wk before (30g/head/d of fatty acids) to three wks after kidding (50g/head/d of fatty acids). ST provided 26% C16:0 and 69.4% C18:0 while FO provided 10.4% EPA and 7.8% DHA. Both ST and FO diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous, with the same calcium content. Previous obtained results on metabolic, productive parameters and mRNA expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response let us to consolidate the hypothesis that in goat lipogenesis is reduced across the transition period, if compared to cow, moreover FO can postpone or reduce lipomobilization. Based on these previous results, miRNA expression was performed on the same hepatic and adipose biopsies (collected on day -7 and 7 and 21 from kidding), as a new perspective in controlling cellular pathways, implicated in adipogenesis and metabolic and endocrine functions. We examined miR-26b and 155 for the infiltration of immune cells, miR-99a, 145 and 221 for the inflammation and lipolysis, miR-143 and 378 for pro-adipogenic function. MIXED and GLM procedures of SAS software were used for statistical analysis. No diet effect, but a time effect for miR-155 and a tendency for miR-221 were found. The increase of their expression over the time after kidding let us to speculate that goats have to face a postponed and more contained inflammation due to the lipolysis, when compared to cows

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2’s activation in transgenic mice fed with dosage of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids using in vivo bioluminescent imaging

To counteract oxidative stress cells developed several mechanisms, including the transcription factor Nuclear Factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The aim of the study was to evaluate the activation of Nrf2 in transgenic mice fed saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids and the anti-inflammatory effect of estrogens on organism. Forty-eight ARE CRE OMO reporter mice were divided into 3 groups, consisting of 16 animals, based on presence/absence of estrogens (ovariectomized or sham female, OVX - SH; male, MA). Each group was further split in 4 subgroups of 4 animals each and fed different diets (7.5% lard, 7.5% tuna oil, 20.0 % lard and 20.0% tuna oil). Two times a week animals were anaesthetized and injected i.p. with 100µL luciferin 15 min before the imaging session. Using the Living Image Software, photon emission was mapped for selected body areas. On day 70, animals were sacrificed after a challenge with Sodium Arsenite. Specific organs were dissected and immediately subjected to ex vivo imaging session. MIXED and GLM procedures of SAS software were used for statistical analysis. Dietary treatments did not affect body weight and feed intake as well as Nrf2 expression in both pre- and post-challenge phases, with the exception of the abdominal region (P=0.031 pre-challenge); in this area, during the pre-challenge phase, OVX showed lower Nrf2 activation (P<0.001). Ex vivo results outlined a significant effect of the challenge on all the considered organs (P<0.001), while OVX subjects had higher Nrf2 expression on urinary bladder and kidney (P<0.05) and high fat diet increased Nrf2 in urinary bladder (P<0.05). The present trial shows how saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in the diet do not exert significant effects on oxidative stress in mice, but confirms the protective role of estrogens under physiological condition

Transcriptional regulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation in transition dairy goats by fish oil and stearate

To better understand the interaction between saturated or unsaturated fatty acids and its effect onexpression of genes involved in subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism, 23 second parity alpine dairygoats were enrolled in the experiment and fed either a non fat-supplemented basal diet (C; n=8), thebasal diet supplemented with stearic acid (ST; n=7) or the basal diet supplemented with fish oil (FO;n=8). 30g/head/d supplemental fatty acids during the dry period and 50g/head/d during lactation weredelivered starting one week before parturition up to 21 days in milk. Subcutaneous adipose tissuesamples were harvested at day -7, 7 and 21 relative to kidding and mRNA levels of genes involved ininflammation were measured via qPCR. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Nosignificant effects for treatment were observed, however eight genes were significant for time. HP andSAA3 expression peaked at day 7 postpartum, to then return at prepartum level around 21 d relative tokidding, while IL8, IL10, and IL18 expression constantly increased along the transition period. Vice versa,expression of IL1β, IL6R, and RXRA decreased in response to kidding, with a subsequent increase at day21. The obtained results led us to hypothesize that goats face a postponed lipomobilization afterkidding, probably related to their reduced production. The next step will involve the analysis of miRNArelated to immune cell infiltration, adipocyte inflammation and lipolysis and positive regulation ofadipogenesis to better understand the complex network of lipid metabolism in periparturient goats

In situ ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids from extruded soybeans: effects of dietary adaptation and of mixing with lecithin or wheat straw

Kinetics and intermediates of biohydrogenation of fatty acids were investigated in situ using extruded soybeans, a blend of extruded soybeans and lecithin (99:1), or a blend of extruded soybeans plus wheat straw (66:34). Two dry dairy cows received successively a diet with added palmitic acid and a diet with added extruded soybeans, and assays were completed after a 3-week adaptation to each diet. Adaptation of the cows to dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids suppressed the lag time before the beginning of biohydrogenation. Adaptation of cows, and mixing straw with soybeans, increased the rate of biohydrogenation of C18:2 and C18:3, resulting in less C18:2 and C18:3, and more trans C18:1 and C18:0 in the in situ bags. Lecithin did not affect the kinetics of biohydrogenation or the profile of fatty acids in the in situ bags. Differences in the rate of biohydrogenation, and profile of residual fatty acids in the bags were observed between the two cows. Even with a mixture of soybeans and straw in cows receiving dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, biohydrogenation was slower and resulted in higher proportions of trans-C18:1 than expected from results of literature in vivo. Resultsshow that the biohydrogenation in situ is slow, highly dependent on experimental conditions, and that the use of several cows, adapted to the test fat source before the assay is initiated, is necessary in order to obtain a reliable estimate of kinetics parameters