The effects of dietary fiber level on nutrient digestibility in growing pigs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of total dietary fiber level on nutrient digestibility and the relationship between apparent total tract digestibility of total dietary fiber, and soluble dietary fiber, insoluble dietary fiber and available energy. Sugar beet pulp was as the only fiber source. The experiment was designed as a 6 × 6 Latin square with an adaptation period of 7 d followed by a 5-d total collection of feces and urine. Feed intake tended to decrease (P =0.10) as total dietary fiber level increased. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy decreased (P <0.01) when total dietary fiber increased but the digestibility of soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber increased (P <0.01). The digestible energy and metabolizable energy content of diets decreased (P <0.01) as the total dietary fiber increased

Heterogeneous ice nucleation correlates with bulk-like interfacial water

Establishing a direct correlation between interfacial water and heterogeneous ice nucleation (HIN) is essential for understanding the mechanism of ice nucleation. Here, we study the HIN efficiency of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) surfaces with different densities of hydroxyl groups. We find that the HIN efficiency increases with the decrease of the hydroxyl group density. By explicitly considering that interfacial water molecules of PVA films consist of ‘tightly bound water’, ‘bound water’ and ‘bulk-like water’, we reveal that ‘bulk-like water’ can be correlated directly to the HIN efficiency of surfaces. As the density of hydroxyl groups decreases, ‘bulk-like water’ molecules can rearrange themselves with a reduced energy barrier into ice due to the diminishing constraint by the hydroxyl groups on the PVA surface. Our study not only provides a new strategy on experimentally controlling HIN efficiency but also gives another perspective in understanding the mechanism of ice nucleation, i.e., the phase change efficiency of ‘bulk-like’ interfacial water of a film is a predictor for the HIN efficiency of that film

Karonudib is a promising anticancer therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer and is generally caused by viral infections or consumption of mutagens, such as alcohol. While liver transplantation and hepatectomy is curative for some patients, many relapse into disease with few treatment options such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, for example, sorafenib or lenvatinib. The need for novel systemic treatment approaches is urgent. Methods: MTH1 expression profile was first analyzed in a HCC database and MTH1 mRNA/protein level was determined in resected HCC and paired paracancerous tissues with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. HCC cancer cell lines were exposed in vitro to MTH1 inhibitors or depleted of MTH1 by siRNA. 8-oxoG was measured by the modified comet assay. The effect of MTH1 inhibition on tumor growth was explored in HCC xenograft in vivo models. Results: MTH1 protein level is elevated in HCC tissue compared with paracancerous liver tissue and indicates poor prognosis. The MTH1 inhibitor Karonudib (TH1579) and siRNA effectively introduce toxic oxidized nucleotides into DNA, 8-oxoG, and kill HCC cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HCC growth in a xenograft mouse model in vivo is efficiently suppressed by Karonudib. Conclusion: Altogether, these data suggest HCC relies on MTH1 for survival, which can be targeted and may open up a novel treatment option for HCC in the future

Integrative Analysis of Energy Partition Patterns and Plasma Metabolomics Profiles of Modern Growing Pigs Raised at Different Ambient Temperatures

This study explores the energy partition patterns of modern growing pigs at 25 kg and 65 kg raised at gradient-ambient temperatures. It also investigates the underlying changes in plasma under such conditions, based on the integrative analysis of indirect calorimetry and non-target metabolomics profiling. Thirty-six barrows with initial BW of 26.4 &plusmn; 1.9 kg and 24 barrows with initial BW of 64.2 &plusmn; 3.1 kg were successively allotted to six respiration chambers with ambient temperatures set as 18 &deg;C, 21 &deg;C, 23 &deg;C, 27 &deg;C, 30 &deg;C, and 32 &deg;C, and four respiration chambers with ambient temperatures set as 18 &deg;C, 23 &deg;C, 27 &deg;C, and 32 &deg;C, respectively. Each pig was kept in an individual metabolic crate and consumed feed ad libitum, then transferred into the respiration chamber after a 7-day adaptation period for 5-day indirect calorimetry assay and 1-day fasting. As the ambient temperature increased from 18 &deg;C to 32 &deg;C, the voluntary feed intake, metabolizable energy intake, nitrogen intake, and retention, total heat production, and energy retention as a protein of growing pigs at 25 kg and 65 kg all linearly decreased (p &lt; 0.05), with greater coefficients of variation for pigs at 65 kg when temperatures changed from 18 &deg;C to 32 &deg;C. The cortisol and thyroid hormone levels in the plasma of 25 kg pigs linearly decreased as the ambient temperature increased from 18 &deg;C to 32 &deg;C (p &lt; 0.05), and 13 compounds were identified through metabolomics analysis, including up-regulated metabolites involved in fatty acid metabolism, such as adrenic acid and down-regulated metabolites involved in amino acid metabolism, such as spermidine at 32 &deg;C. These results suggested that modern growing pigs at heavier bodyweight were more sensitive to high temperatures on energy intake and partition. Most of the identified metabolites altered at high ambient temperatures are associated with suppressed fatty acid oxidation and elevated lipogenesis and protein degradation

Analysis of the genetic diversity and molecular phylogeography of the endangered wild rose (Rosa rugosa) in China based on chloroplast genes

In this study, 3 chloroplast sequences (rnL-trnF, rpl20-rps12, and rbcl) were amplified and sequenced in 236 individuals from 12 wild rose (Rosa rugosa) populations in China to determine their genetic diversity, genetic differentiation and pedigree geographic structure in order to provide information necessary for formulating protection strategies. In total, 19 haplotypes were obtained. The gene flow (Nm) among the wild rose populations was 0.7, and the species exhibited low overall genetic diversity (Ht = 0.427 ± 0.0863). The genetic differentiation coefficients of wild rose were Nst = 0.270 > Gst = 0.197 (p < 0.01), indicating that the wild rose populations in China have obvious phylogeographic structure. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that genetic variation in wild rose occurs mainly within populations (77.27%) rather than between populations (22.73%). Furthermore, the wild rose populations exhibited a large degree of genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.2273). The results of a Mantel test showed that geographical isolation was not the main factor causing the genetic differentiation among the wild rose populations. A mismatch analysis curve and neutrality test indicated that the wild rose populations recently expanded. There may be multiple refuges for wild rose, such as the Shandong Yantai (DYZ) population, the Weihai (CSZ) population in the south, and the Hunchun (JXZ) population in the north. Orogeny, the formation of the Bohai Sea, and human activities are important drivers of the fragmented distribution of wild rose in China

Evaluation on Net Energy of Defatted Rice Bran from Different Origins and Processing Technologies Fed to Growing Pigs

The study was conducted to determine and compare the net energy (NE) of defatted rice bran (DFRB) from different sources and different processing technology fed to growing pigs using indirect calorimetry. Thirty-six growing barrows (30.7 ± 3.9 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 6 diets with 6 replicate pigs per diet. Diets included a corn-soybean meal basal diet and 5 test diets containing 30% DFRB, respectively. These five samples come from 4 different provinces (i.e., Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jilin, and Liaoning province within China) and two of them with the same origin but different processing technologies (i.e., extruded or pelleted). During each period, pigs were kept individually in metabolism crates for 21 days, including 14 days to adapt to the diets. On day 15, pigs were transferred to the open-circuit respiration chambers for adaptation, and the next day were ready to determine daily total heat production (HP) and were fed 1 of the 6 diets at 2.3 MJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg body weight (BW)0.6/day. Total feces and urine were collected for the determination of digestible energy (DE) and ME and daily total HP was measured from day 16 to day 20 and fasted on day 21 for the measurement of fasting heat production (FHP). The NE contents of extruded DFRB from different provinces were within the range of values (8.24 to 10.22 MJ/kg DM). There is a discrepancy of approximately 10.01% in the NE content between the DFRB origins. The NE contents of extruded DFRB and pelleted DFRB from the same province were 8.24 vs. 6.56 MJ/kg DM. Retained energy (RE) and FHP of diets containing extruded DFRB and pelleted DFRB were 1105 vs. 892 kJ/kg BW0.6/day and 746 vs. 726 kJ/kg BW0.6/day respectively, and those in extruded DFRB from different origins were within the range of values (947 to 1105 kJ/kg BW0.6/day and 726 to 755 kJ/kg BW0.6/day, respectively). In conclusion, NE values are affected by origin and processing technology of DFRB

Macromolecular Design for Oxygen/Nitrogen Permselective Membranes—Top-Performing Polymers in 2020—

Oxygen/nitrogen permselective membranes play particularly important roles in fundamental scientific studies and in a number of applications in industrial chemistry, but have not yet fulfilled their full potential. Organic polymers are the main materials used for such membranes because of the possibility of using sophisticated techniques of precise molecular design and their ready processability for making thin and large self-supporting membranes. However, since the difference in the properties of oxygen and nitrogen gas molecules is quite small, for example, their kinetic diameters are 3.46 Å and 3.64 Å, respectively, the architectures of the membrane macromolecules should be designed precisely. It has been reported often that oxygen permeability (PO2) and oxygen permselectivity (α = PO2/PN2) have trade-off relationships for symmetric membranes made from pure polymers. Some empirical upper bound lines have been reported in (ln α − ln PO2) plots since Robeson reported an upper bound line in 1991 for the first time. The main purpose of this review is to discuss suitable macromolecular structures that produce excellent oxygen/nitrogen permselective membranes. For this purpose, we first searched extensively and intensively for papers which had reported α and PO2 values through symmetric dense membranes from pure polymers. Then, we examined the chemical structures of the polymers showing the top performances in (ln α − ln PO2) plots, using their aged performances. Furthermore, we also explored progress in the molecular design in this field by comparing the best polymers reported by 2013 and those subsequently found up to now (2020) because of the rapid outstanding growth in this period. Finally, we discussed how to improve α and PO2 simultaneously on the basis of reported results using not only symmetric membranes of pure organic polymers but also composite asymmetric membranes containing various additives

Adenovirus Vector Harboring the HBcAg and Tripeptidyl Peptidase II Genes Induces Potent Cellular Immune Responses In Vivo

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with a weak but specific cellular immune response of the host to HBV. Tripeptidyl peptidaseⅡ (TPPⅡ), an intracellular macromolecule and proteolytic enzyme, plays an important complementary and compensatory role for the proteasome during viral protein degradation and major histocompatibility complex class I antigen presentation by inducing a specific cellular immune response in vivo. Based on a previous study, we aimed to explore the role of MHC class I antigen presentation in vivo and the mechanisms that may be involved. Methods: In this study, recombinant adenoviral vectors harboring the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and the TPPII gene were constructed (Adv-HBcAg and Adv-HBcAg-TPPII), and H-2Kd HBV-transgenic BALB/c mice and HLA-A2 C57BL/6 mice were immunized with these vectors, respectively. We evaluated the specific immune responses induced by Adv-HBcAg-TPPII in the HBV transgenic BALB/c mice and HLA-A2 C57BL/6 mice as well as the anti-viral ability of HBV transgenic mice, and we explored the underlying mechanisms. Results: We found that immunization with Adv-HBcAg-TPPII induced the secretion of the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as well as the activities of IFN-γ-secreting CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells. In addition, HBcAg-specific CTL activity in C57/BL mice and HBV transgenic animals was significantly enhanced in the Adv-HBcAg-TPPII group. Furthermore, Adv-HBcAg-TPPII decreased the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA levels and the amount of HBsAg and HBcAg in liver tissues. Moreover, Adv-HBcAg-TPPII enhanced the expression of T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and downregulated GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) while increasing the expression levels of JAK2, STAT1, STAT4 and Tyk2. Conclusions: These results suggested that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway participates in the CTL response that is mediated by the adenoviral vector encoding TPPII. Adv-HBcAg-TPPII could therefore break immune tolerance and stimulate HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and could have a good therapeutic effect in transgenic mice