Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Barley Malt Extract and Malt Vinegar on Growth Performance, Jejunal Morphology and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of barley malt extract and barley malt vinegar on growth performance, jejunal morphology and meat quality of broilers. A total of 600 day-old chicks were allocated to four dietary treatments to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of 0.2% barley malt extract alone or along with 0.4 or 0.8% of malt vinegar as well as the control group. The results of the experiment have shown that dietary supplementation of 0.2% malt extract along with 0.4% malt vinegar resulted in a higher average daily gain (P = 0.007) and European production efficiency factor (P= 0.028) concomitantly lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.047) compared to the birds were fed the control diet or supplemented by 0.2% malt extract along with 0.8% malt vinegar. Dietary supplementation of 0.2% malt extract increased the apparent absorption of surface area in the jejunum (P = 0.024). Moreover, dietary supplementation of malt extracts and malt vinegar alleviated malondialdehyde formation in the breast and thigh muscles (P< 0.05). Ceca microflora enumeration did not differ among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.2% malt extract along with 0.4% malt vinegar may improve broiler growth performance and alleviate lipid oxidation

Coupled fixed point results on metric spaces defined by binary operations

In parallel with the various generalizations of the Banach fixed point theorem in metric spaces, this theory is also transported to some different types of spaces including ultra metric spaces, fuzzy metric spaces, uniform spaces, partial metric spaces, $b$-metric spaces etc. In this context, first we define a binary normed operation on nonnegative real numbers and give some examples. Then we recall the concept of $T$-metric space and some important and fundamental properties of it. A $T$-metric space is a $3$-tuple $(X, T, \diamond)$, where $X$ is a nonempty set, $\diamond$ is a binary normed operation and $T$ is a $T$-metric on $X$. Since the triangular inequality of $T$-metric depends on a binary operation, which includes the sum as a special case, a $T$-metric space is a real generalization of ordinary metric space. As main results, we present three coupled fixed point theorems for bivariate mappings satisfying some certain contractive inequalities on a complete $T$-metric space. It is easily seen that not only existence but also uniqueness of coupled fixed point guaranteed in these theorems. Also, we provide some suitable examples that illustrate our results

Health information prescription system for non communicable diseases: A systematic review and thematic analysis

Objective - Prescribing health information is very important to empower informed patients. The goal of present study is to recognize challenges for developing health information prescription on non-communicable diseases. Material and Methods - Six data bases related to health information prescription were investigated. They included Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid and EMBASE. The investigated studies were published from 2000 to 2019. The language of the articles was English and the access to full text was one of the inclusion criteria. The research was evaluated by Prisma checklist and critical apprising. Different dimensions of health Information prescription system were recognized by thematic analysis. Results - 54 studies were recognized based on the inclusion criteria. The results showed that there were three main concepts related to primary dimensions of the system in designing health information prescription system: determination of system functional goals, recognition of implementation barriers and recognition of developmental sub-structures. There were 16 subcategories including primary goals for accessibility, the concerns related to patients information confidentiality, individual differences and interests and personalizing the process of information prescription, the lack of integrity in health Information system for providing pattern of health Information system related to diabetic patients. Conclusion - The goals, implementing barriers and functional substructures of health information prescription system should be recognized in order to improve self-care behaviors of diabetic patients in clinic. It is recommended that the future investigations focus on research gaps in personalizing health information prescription and integration of health information prescription process in health care system. © 2020, LLC Science and Innovations

Controlled modification of resonant tunneling in metal-insulator-insulator-metal structures

We present comprehensive experimental and theoretical work on tunnel-barrier rectifiers comprising bilayer (Nb2O5/Al2O3) insulator configurations with similar (Nb/Nb) and dissimilar (Nb/Ag) metal electrodes. The electron affinity, valence band offset, and metal work function were ascertained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, and electrical measurements on fabricated reference structures. The experimental band line-up parameters were fed into a theoretical model to predict available bound states in the Nb2O5/Al2O3 quantum well and generate tunneling probability and transmittance curves under applied bias. The onset of strong resonance in the sub-V regime was found to be controlled by a work function difference of Nb/Ag electrodes in agreement with the experimental band alignment and theoretical model. A superior low-bias asymmetry of 35 at 0.1 V and a responsivity of 5 A/W at 0.25 V were observed for the Nb/4 nm Nb2O5/1 nm Al2O3/Ag structure, sufficient to achieve a rectification of over 90% of the input alternate current terahertz signal in a rectenna device

Enhanced low voltage nonlinearity in resonant tunneling metal–insulator–insulator–metal nanostructures

The electrical properties of bi-layer Ta2O5/Al2O3 and Nb2O5/Al2O3 metal–insulator–insulator–metal nanostructures as rectifiers have been investigated. The ultra-thin (1–6 nm) insulator layers were deposited by atomic-layer deposition or rf magnetron sputtering with Al as metal contacts. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was performed to extract the optical properties and band gap of narrow band gap insulator layers while the surface roughness of the metal contacts was measured by atomic force microscopy. Superior low voltage large signal and small signal nonlinearities such as asymmetry of 18 at 0.35 V, rate of change of non-linearity of 7.5 V�1, and responsivity of 9 A/W at 0.2 V were observed from the current–voltage characteristics. A sharp increase in current at �2 V on Ta2O5/Al2O3 device can be ascribed to resonant tunneling

Sevoflurane-mediated modulation of oxidative myocardial injury

Introduction: Volatile anesthetics offer protection when administered throughout an ischemic injury. We examined how volatile anesthetics modulate the cardiac myocytic injury associated with hydrogen peroxide. Methods: Forty-eight Long-Evans rats were divided into four groups depending on the treatment: none (CONT), Glibenclamide (GLB); Sevoflurane (SEV); or GLB+SEV. Each group was further divided into two, one of which was exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ). Oral GLB was administered 48 hours before myocardial isolation. All rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of Ketamine, and the hearts were harvested after heparinization. Cardiomyocytes were isolated using a combination of mechanical mincing and enzymatic digestion. After isolation, the aliquots of cells were exposed to H2 O2 and FeSO4 for 30 minutes. The cell suspensions were then bubbled for 10 minutes with 100% oxygen and 1.5% SEV if appropriate. Apoptosis was detected by fluorescein-bound annexin-V (ANX-V), necrosis by propidium iodide, and ELISA assessed caspase-3 activity in all groups. Results: There was an increase in apoptosis, necrosis, and caspase-3 activity in the cells following exposure to hydrogen peroxide. SEV reduced the rate of cell necrosis and apoptosis. Pretreatment with GLB did not alter the effects of SEV. Similarly, caspase-3 activity did not change with GLB, although SEV administration reduced this enzymatic activity in response to hydrogen peroxide. Conclusion: In this oxidant injury model, we demonstrated that incubating isolated cardiomyocytes with SEV profoundly diminished H2 O2 -induced apoptotic and necrotic cells compared to their CONTs. These results support the hypothesis that KATP channels are not the sole mediators associated with anesthetic preconditioning

Tuning the electrical conductance of metalloporphyrin supramolecular wires

In contrast with conventional single-molecule junctions, in which the current flows parallel to the long axis or plane of a molecule, we investigate the transport properties of M(II)-5,15-diphenylporphyrin (M-DPP) single-molecule junctions (M=Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn divalent metal ions), in which the current flows perpendicular to the plane of the porphyrin. Novel STM-based conductance measurements combined with quantum transport calculations demonstrate that current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) junctions have three-orders-of-magnitude higher electrical conductanc than their current in-plane (CIP) counterparts, ranging from 2.10−2 G0 for Ni-DPP up to 8.10−2 G0 for Zn-DPP. The metal ion in the center of the DPP skeletons is strongly coordinated with the nitrogens of the pyridyl coated electrodes, with a binding energy that is sensitive to the choice of metal ion. We find that the binding energies of Zn-DPP and Co-DPP are significantly higher than those of Ni-DPP and Cu-DPP. Therefore when combined with its higher conductance, we identify Zn-DPP as the favoured candidate for high conductance CPP single-molecule devices

Clinical features of the myasthenic syndrome arising from mutations in GMPPB

BACKGROUND: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) due to mutations in GMPPB has recently been reported confirming the importance of glycosylation for the integrity of neuromuscular transmission. METHODS: Review of case notes of patients with mutations in GMPPB to identify the associated clinical, neurophysiological, pathological and laboratory features. In addition, serum creatine kinase (CK) levels within the Oxford CMS cohort were retrospectively analysed to assess its usefulness in the differential diagnosis of this new entity. RESULTS: All patients had prominent limb-girdle weakness with minimal or absent craniobulbar manifestations. Presentation was delayed beyond infancy with proximal muscle weakness and most patients recall poor performance in sports during childhood. Neurophysiology showed abnormal neuromuscular transmission only in the affected muscles and myopathic changes. Muscle biopsy showed dystrophic features and reduced α-dystroglycan glycosylation. In addition, myopathic changes were present on muscle MRI. CK was significantly increased in serum compared to other CMS subtypes. Patients were responsive to pyridostigimine alone or combined with 3,4-diaminopyridine and/or salbutamol. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GMPPB-CMS have phenotypic features aligned with CMS subtypes harbouring mutations within the early stages of the glycosylation pathway. Additional features shared with the dystroglycanopathies include myopathic features, raised CK levels and variable mild cognitive delay. This syndrome underlines that CMS can occur in the absence of classic myasthenic manifestations such as ptosis and ophthalmoplegia or facial weakness, and links myasthenic disorders with dystroglycanopathies. This report should facilitate the recognition of this disorder, which is likely to be underdiagnosed and can benefit from symptomatic treatment