Molecular Tuning of the Magnetic Response in Organic Semiconductors

The tunability of high-mobility organic semi-conductors (OSCs) holds great promise for molecular spintronics. In this study, we show this extreme variability - and therefore potential tunability - of the molecular gyromagnetic coupling ("g-") tensor with respect to the geometric and electronic structure in a much studied class of OSCs. Composed of a structural theme of phenyl- and chalcogenophene (group XVI element containing, five-membered) rings and alkyl functional groups, this class forms the basis of several intensely studied high-mobility polymers and molecular OSCs. We show how in this class the g-tensor shifts, $\Delta g$, are determined by the effective molecular spin-orbit coupling (SOC), defined by the overlap of the atomic spin-density and the heavy atoms in the polymers. We explain the dramatic variations in SOC with molecular geometry, chemical composition, functionalization, and charge life-time using a first-principles theoretical model based on atomic spin populations. Our approach gives a guide to tuning the magnetic response of these OSCs by chemical synthesis

Accelerated Growth Rate Induced by Neonatal High-Protein Milk Formula Is Not Supported by Increased Tissue Protein Synthesis in Low-Birth-Weight Piglets

Low-birth-weight neonates are routinely fed a high-protein formula to promote catch-up growth and antibiotics are usually associated to prevent infection. Yet the effects of such practices on tissue protein metabolism are unknown. Baby pigs were fed from age 2 to 7 or 28 d with high protein formula with or without amoxicillin supplementation, in parallel with normal protein formula, to determine tissue protein metabolism modifications. Feeding high protein formula increased growth rate between 2 and 28 days of age when antibiotic was administered early in the first week of life. This could be explained by the occurrence of diarrhea when piglets were fed the high protein formula alone. Higher growth rate was associated with higher feed conversion and reduced protein synthesis rate in the small intestine, muscle and carcass, whereas proteolytic enzyme activities measured in these tissues were unchanged. In conclusion, accelerated growth rate caused by high protein formula and antibiotics was not supported by increased protein synthesis in muscle and carcass

The relevance of functional amino acids to support the health of growing pigs

On commercial farms, young growing pigs are frequently affected by health problems from multifactorial origins (e.g. environmental changes, biosecurity, management, and feed) that result in inflammation and activation of body defenses. Inflammation states alter animal metabolism in such a way that nutrients (particularly amino acids) are diverted from the use for growth towards the production of defense-related proteins and low-molecular-weight compounds (e.g., nitric oxide, H2S, and glutathione) for supporting the activity of rapidly dividing cells such as immune cells and enterocytes. Furthermore, amino acids may act specifically as signaling molecules to regulate metabolic pathways during inflammation. Thus, new knowledge on the specific role and metabolism of each amino acid is needed to refine nutritional recommendations for pigs of different phenotypes and genotypes, with the objective of maintaining animal health and performance under sub-optimal rearing conditions. This paper aims at summarizing recent advances in research on the functional roles of amino acids related to swine health. Specifically, the review highlights current knowledge on the impact of inflammation on the intake and metabolism of amino acids; their relevance for the physical gut mucosal barrier and antioxidant defense, as well as their roles in the syntheses of defense molecules and in the regulation of immune response. Practical implications for feeding strategies adapted to various health conditions of growing pigs are also discussed along with our general perspectives on related research

Review. Divergent selection for residual feed intake in the growing pig

To view supplementary material for this article, please visit https:/doi.org/10.1017/S175173111600286XThis review summarizes the results from the INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) divergent selection experiment on residual feed intake (RFI) in growing Large White pigs during nine generations of selection. It discusses the remaining challenges and perspectives for the improvement of feed efficiency in growing pigs. The impacts on growing pigs raised under standard conditions and in alternative situations such as heat stress, inflammatory challenges or lactation have been studied. After nine generations of selection, the divergent selection for RFI led to highly significant ( P<0.001) line differences for RFI (−165 g/day in the low RFI (LRFI) line compared with high RFI line) and daily feed intake (−270 g/day). Low responses wereobserved on growth rate (−12.8 g/day, P <0.05) and body composition (+0.9mm backfat thickness, P = 0.57; −2.64% lean meat content, P<0.001) with a marked response on feed conversion ratio (−0.32 kg feed/kg gain, P<0.001). Reduced ultimate pH and increased lightness of the meat ( P<0.001) were observed in LRFI pigs with minor impact on the sensory quality of the meat. These changes in meat quality were associated with changes of the muscular energy metabolism. Reduced maintenance energy requirements (−10% after five generations of selection) and activity (−21% of time standing after six generations of selection) of LRFI pigs greatly contributed to the gain in energy efficiency. However, the impact of selection for RFI on the protein metabolism of the pig remains unclear. Digestibility of energy and nutrients was not affected by selection, neither for pigs fed conventional diets nor for pigs fed high-fibre diets. A significant improvement of digestive efficiency could likely be achieved by selecting pigs on fibre diets. No convincing genetic or blood biomarker has been identified for explaining the differences in RFI, suggesting that pigs have various ways to achieve an efficient use of feed. No deleterious impact of the selection on the sow reproduction performance was observed. The resource allocation theory states that low RFI may reduce the ability to cope with stressors,via the reduction of a buffer compartment dedicated to responses to stress. None of the experiments focussed on the response of pigs to stress or challenges could confirm this theory. Understanding the relationships between RFI and responses to stress and energy demanding processes, as such immunity and lactation, remains a major challenge for a better understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of the trait and to reconcile the experimental results with the resource allocation theory

Rôles des acides aminés au cours de l'inflammation

National audienc

Conséquences d'un état inflammatoire ou infectieux sur le métabolisme et le besoin en acides aminés chez le porc

Les modifications métaboliques associées aux états inflammatoires et infectieux sont susceptibles de modifier les besoins nutritionnels des animaux notamment en protéines et en acides aminés. L’organisme réoriente le flux des acides aminés vers les tissus impliqués dans la réaction inflammatoire ou la réponse immunitaire au détriment des tissus assurant la croissance. Ces acides aminés sont utilisés pour la synthèse des protéines de l’inflammation et de l’immunité dont le profil est différent de celui des protéines participant à la croissance, engendrant alors des besoins spécifiques en acides aminés. Par exemple, le besoin en acides aminés soufrés, notamment en cystéine, est fortement augmenté chez les animaux en situation de sepsis (nom donné aux états inflammatoires généralisés). La cystéine est utilisée dans la synthèse de glutathion dont la production est fortement augmentée lors des états inflammatoires. Chez le porc, on dispose encore de très peu de données expérimentales permettant d’établir les besoins spécifiques en acides aminés. La lysine n’est probablement pas un acide aminé limitant pour la réaction immunitaire alors que les concentrations sériques d’immunoglobulines sont influencés par la teneur en thréonine de l’aliment. La couverture de ces besoins spécifiques permettrait de limiter la chute des performances de croissance observées chez des animaux dont le système immunitaire est activé.Metabolic changes associated with inflammatory processes or infectious diseases can modify protein and amino acid requirements. In these cases, amino acids are redistributed away from growth processes towards tissues involved in inflammatory or immune response. There, they are used for synthesis of inflammatory and immune proteins. The different amino acid composition of immune or inflammatory proteins induces specific requirements. For example, during sepsis, cysteine requirement is increased in humans and animals in order to maintain glutathion synthesis, In pigs, limited experimental data are available to establish a specific amino acid requirement during immune challenge. Lysine is probably not a limiting amino acid for the immune response whereas dietary threonine content influences plasma immunoglobulin concentrations, Finally, an adequate amino acid supply could allow to preserve the growth performance of Digs during an immune challenge

Amino acid requirements induced by inflammation and immune system activation

International audienc

Le métabolisme des acides aminés est modifié par un stress immunitaire chez le porc. Quelques données récentes sur le tryptophane

National audienc