Effect of water addition on selective consumption (sorting) of dry diets by dairy cattle.

The objective of this study was to determine whether adding water to a dry diet would reduce sorting and improve cow performance. Eighteen multiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in a cross-over design with 21-d periods. Treatments had the same dietary composition and differed only by adding water (WET) or not (DRY). Diets consisted of 10% alfalfa silage, 30% hay (approximately 80% grass and 20% alfalfa), and 60% concentrate [dry matter (DM) basis]. Dietary DM was 80.8% for DRY and 64.4% for WET. Both diets contained 16.9% crude protein and 24.3% neutral detergent fiber. Particle size was determined using the Wisconsin Particle Size Separator on the as-fed diets. The separator has five square-hole screens (Y(1) to Y(5)) with diagonal openings of 26.9 mm for Y(1), 18 mm for Y(2), 8.98 mm for Y(3), 5.61 mm for Y(4), and 1.65 mm for Y(5), and one pan. Sorting was calculated on a 60 degrees C DM basis (60DM). Predicted intake of Y(i) was calculated as the product of 60DM intake (60DMI) and the 60DM fraction of Y(i) in the total mixed ration for that screen. For DRY and WET, actual 60DMI by screen expressed as a percentage of predicted intake was 61.4% vs. 75.2% for Y(1), 83.8% vs. 98.6% for Y(2), 85.6% vs. 90.8% for Y(3), 95.2% vs. 96.0% for Y(4), 100.1% vs. 101.9% for Y(5), and 105.9% vs. 102.9% for pan, respectively. Adding water did not affect total DM intake (28.3 kg/d) or milk production (41.3 kg/d). Neutral detergent fiber intake was 6.42 kg/d for WET and 6.15 kg/d for DRY. Milk fat percentage tended to be higher (3.41% vs. 3.31%) when cows consumed WET vs. DRY. No differences in ruminal pH, NH(3), and volatile fatty acids were observed. Cows sorted against long particles in favor of shorter particles on both diets. Adding water to dry diets reduced sorting and tended to increase neutral detergent fiber intake and milk fat percentage

The Polynomial Eigenvalue Problem is Well Conditioned for Random Inputs

We compute the exact expected value of the squared condition number for the polynomial eigenvalue problem, when the input matrices have entries coming from the standard complex Gaussian distribution, showing that in general this problem is quite well conditioned.The first author's work was partially supported by Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII), Uruguay, and by CSIC group 618, Universidad de La República, Uruguay. The second author's work was partially supported by MTM2017-83816-P and MTM2017-90682-REDT from Spanish Ministry of Science MICINN and by 21.SI01.64658 from Universidad de Cantabria and Banco de Santander

Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes for highly efficient PFASs removal: overview, challenges and future perspectives

Today, it is extremely urgent to face the increasing shortage of clean and safe water resources, determined by the exponential growth of both world population and its consumerism, climate change and pollution. Water remediation from traditional chemicals and Contaminants of Emerging Concerns (CECs) is supposed to be among the major methods to solve water scarcity issues. Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) membrane separation technologies have proven to be feasible, sustainable and highly effective methods for the removal of contaminants, comprising the extremely persistent and recalcitrant perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which failed to be treated through the traditional water treatment approaches. So far, however, they have been unable to assure PFASs levels under the established guidance limits for drinking water and still suffer from fouling problems, which limit their large-scale application. Novel configurations, improvement in process design and the development of high-performant materials for membrane production are important steps to tackle these issues, especially in view of new more stringent regulations limiting PFASs content in drinking water. As a possible future strategy, nanocomposite Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs) offer a platform of advanced materials which promise to revolutionize RO/NF technology for water treatment. In particular, the introduction of MOFs as adsorbent fillers in the polymeric membrane matrix appears as a viable approach for the effective and selective capture and removal of PFASs from water. The objective of this review is to provide a dedicated outlook on the most recent advances in RO and NF membrane technologies for PFASs removal. The effects of membrane properties, the solution chemistry, and contaminant properties on the RO/NF performances will be discussed in detail. Future challenges are also discussed, offering new perspectives toward the development of new advanced membranes with improved performance for PFAS removal, which are likely to significantly progress RO and NF technology for water remediation

A novel supramolecular assembly in an iron(III) compound exhibiting magnetic ordering at 70 K

Ethyl-substituted ammonium cation allows the preparation of an unprecedented oxo- and oxalato-bridged supramolecular three-dimensional network. The compound exhibits magnetic ordering with Tc = 70 K due to a weak spin canting.Julve Olcina, Miguel, [email protected] ; Lloret Pastor, Francisco, [email protected]

Synthesis of a rod-based porous coordination polymer from a nucleotide as a sequential chiral inductor

We report the two-step synthesis of a novel chiral rod-based porous coordination polymer (PCP). The chemical approach consists on the use of a previously prepared bis(ethylendiamine) copper monomer of formula [Cu(en)]2(NO3)2 [where en = ethylendiamine] reacting with the cytidine 5'-monophosphate (CMP) nucleotide. The bis(ethylendiamine) copper compound -stabilized by the axial coordination of nitrate counter-anions- reacts in the presence of sodium salt of CMP to yield right-handed copper(II) chains of P helicity with formula [Cu2(en)2(CMP)2] . 5H2O (1). The axial coordination of the CMP2- ligands through the N3 and O2 sites (free nitrogen and carbonyl groups) of the cytosine nucleobase and oxygen atoms of phosphate moieties, ensure the stabilization of the neutral chiral polymer. The supramolecular organization involves strong hydrogen bonding interactions to build supramolecular chains of the same helicity. The resulting PCP constitutes one of the few examples of CMP compounds exhibiting a such coordination involving both nucleobase and phosphate moieties, where a highly stable metal complex is used as precursor for the rational construction of rod-based hydrogen metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs). Furthermore, it is underlined the intrinsic capability of biomolecules to act as chiral transfer systems

Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response Enhances Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of paralysis, and involves multiple cellular and tissular responses including demyelination, inflammation, cell death and axonal degeneration. Recent evidence suggests that perturbation on the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is observed in different SCI models; however, the functional contribution of this pathway to this pathology is not known. Here we demonstrate that SCI triggers a fast ER stress reaction (1–3 h) involving the upregulation of key components of the unfolded protein response (UPR), a process that propagates through the spinal cord. Ablation of X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) or activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) expression, two major UPR transcription factors, leads to a reduced locomotor recovery after experimental SCI. The effects of UPR inactivation were associated with a significant increase in the number of damaged axons and reduced amount of oligodendrocytes surrounding the injury zone. In addition, altered microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were observed in ATF4 deficient mice after SCI. Local expression of active XBP1 into the spinal cord using adeno-associated viruses enhanced locomotor recovery after SCI, and was associated with an increased number of oligodendrocytes. Altogether, our results demonstrate a functional role of the UPR in SCI, offering novel therapeutic targets to treat this invalidating condition

Phytochemical profile of capsicum annuum l. Cv senise, incorporation into liposomes, and evaluation of cellular antioxidant activity

Overproduction of oxidants in the human body is responsible for oxidative stress, which is associated with several diseases. High intake of vegetables and fruits can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, as they are sources of bioactive compounds capable of contrasting the free radical effects involved in cancer, obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise is a sweet pepper that is grown in the Basilicata region (Italy). It is an important source of polyphenols, carotenoids, and capsinoids and can play a key role in human health. In this study, an ethanol extract was obtained from C. annuum dried peppers and the analysis of the phytochemical composition was performed by LC-ESI/LTQ Orbitrap/MS. The extract was incorporated into liposomes, which showed small size (~80 nm), good homogeneity, negative surface charge, and good stability in storage. The biological activity of the extract was evaluated in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line, used as model cells. The extract showed no cytotoxic activity and reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in stressed cells. The antioxidant activity was further improved when the extract was loaded into liposomes. Moreover, the extract promoted the expression of endogenous antioxidants, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase through the Nrf-2 pathway evaluated by RT-PCR

Effect of injection molding conditions on crystalline structure and electrical resistivity of PP/MWCNT nanocomposites

Polypropylene (PP) / multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared by melt-mixing and used to manufacture samples by injection molding. The effect of processing conditions on the crystallinity and electrical resistivity was studied. Accordingly, samples were produced varying the mold temperature and injection rate, and the DC electrical resistivity was measured. The morphology of MWCNT clusters was studied by optical and electron microscopy, while X-ray diffraction was used to study the role of the crystalline structure of PP. As a result, an anisotropic electrical behavior induced by the process was observed, which is further influenced by the injection molding processing condition. It was demonstrated that a reduction of electrical resistivity can be obtained by increasing mold temperature and injection rate, which was associated to the formation of the γ-phase and the related inter-cluster morphology of the MWCNT conductive network